Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2012 2013 2014

Details for Mechanism ID: 14385
Country/Region: Namibia
Year: 2012
Main Partner: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Implementing Agency
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $996,672

The International Laboratory Branch Consortium (ILBC) is a centrally-managed cooperative agreement with multiple sub-recipients (Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), and a TBD regional partner for south-to-south assistance). In Namibia, TA is focused on the national public health lab system, lab quality systems, TB diagnostics, and training for bio-clinical monitoring testing, lab workforce strategies, research capacity, and mentoring. Strengthening lab capacity contributes to accessible, equitable, effective, affordable, and quality services for all. Lab strategic planning has been identified as a priority for the MOHSS in the NSF, which informs the PF and GHI Strategy. This mechanisms coverage is national. The training of trainers as instructors and mentors will, over time, reduce ILBCs role in Namibia. This mechanism provides short-term technical trainings or consultancy services. MOHSS and NIP manage the logistics of the trainings and consultancies, and, increasingly, provides trainers from its own staff to conduct follow-up mentoring and monitoring. MOHSS and NIP are also responsible for procuring equipment and reagents for the trainings. The grantee must submit a detailed work plan with its annual continuation application, as well as bi-annual status reports to CDC. Routine monthly meetings are also held with the CDC Namibia project management team.

Funding for Care: TB/HIV (HVTB): $149,000

Technical assistance from the American Society of Microbiologists (ASM) is a sub-grantee under a cooperative agreement managed by the CDC Global AIDS Program International Laboratory Branch.

Technical assistance from ASM: ASM has provided short- and long-term technical advisors to work with the CDC Namibia laboratory technical advisor, alongside NIP staff at the main laboratory in Windhoek, to improve their proficiency with TB diagnostic testing. This assistance has included on-the-job training on TB-related laboratory equipment and infection control practices. ASM will focus support on peripheral NIP laboratories. Areas of technical focus for this training and TA will include establishing a blinded quality assurance process for rechecking slides; strengthening the management of existing external quality assurance systems, and; training for NIP laboratory technicians on fluorescence microscopy, TB culture, and drug susceptibility testing (DST) strengthening in Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Oshakati.

Funding for Laboratory Infrastructure (HLAB): $847,672

These partners are all sub-grantees under a cooperative agreement managed by the CDC Global AIDS Program International Laboratory Branch (ILB) in Atlanta.

1) American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) support to Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) will include training on basic lab operations for district level labs and phlebotomy training for Ministry of Health and Social Social Services (MOHSS) and NIP staffs. After COP12, local and regional lab partners will be able to provide the TA currently being provided by ASCP.

2) Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) technical assistance to NIP will include support for quality management systems as NIP prepares for laboratory accreditation through Regional accreditation bodies (SADCAS &SANAS). CLSI will support a thorough assessment of NIPs quality management system and practices; conduct an active gap analysis; asses overall program effectiveness, and; provide mentorship. Based on these assessments and reviews, CLSI will help NIP develop improved standard operating procedures and other policy level and training improvements.

3) Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) will support:Finalization of National Lab Policy (NLP) and strategic plan, technical assistance for leadership management and strategic planningDevelop a master plan for the phased implementation of the NLP and strategic planEstablish a governance structure and organizational plan for the National Public Health LabProvide institutional capacity building through coaching, mentoring and training to strengthen the capacity of NIP and MOHSS leadership to develop and implement sustainable management and financing structures for the NPHL.Assist MOHSS and NIP to cost lab services.

4) PEPFAR Namibia will support a regional partner through a cooperative agreement managed by the CDC Global AIDS Program International Laboratory Branch (ILB) in Atlanta. This partner will be drawn from eligible applicants within sub-Saharan Africa (i.e., not an international partner).Additional supervision and mentoring will be provided by lab advisors from CDC Namibia. NIP managers and supervisors provide day-to-day management oversight and supervision.

All ILB consortium partners provide short-term technical trainings. NIP manages the logistics of the trainings, and increasingly provides trainers from its own staff for follow-up mentoring and monitoring. NIP is also responsible for procurement for the trainings. Procurements, stock management and delivery are done through NIPs ordering system. Training of trainer (TOT) methods will reduce ILBCs role in Namibia. USG seeks to develop NIPs administrative capacity to allow NIP to contract and fund its own TA

Subpartners Total: $0
American Society for Microbiology: NA
American Society for Clinical Pathology: NA
Association of Public Health Laboratories: NA
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute: NA
To Be Determined: NA