Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Details for Mechanism ID: 10663
Country/Region: Ethiopia
Year: 2013
Main Partner: American Society for Microbiology
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Private Contractor
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $150,000

This is a continuing activity. The American Society of Microbiology (ASM) aims to strengthen the Ethiopian public laboratory network for clinical microbiology services. ASM engages local universities and organizations to build capacity and transfer technology to promote sustainability. ASM works with stakeholders to improve human resources and laboratory infrastructure specifically for opportunistic infections and sexually transmitted infection diagnostics. Specific areas of focus include: Onsite training to national/regional reference lab staff for skill transfer and capacity development. Assisting with development of expanded test panels, national guidelines and SOPs for specimen collection and transport from health centers/hospitals and subsequent testing, recording and reporting of test results. Partnering with institutions in educating Ethiopian lab scientists to strengthen clinical microbiology curricula. Onsite supervision/training to strengthen the national microbiology external quality assurance program and enhance skills on TB culture procedures, instrument operation and preventive maintenance, and quality assurance. Developing a training of trainers curriculum and conduct diagnostic microbiology training to improve local capacity. Partnering with EHNRI to implement better diagnostic tools for microbial infectious diseases. Providing technical assistance to the national reference laboratory in producing EQA panel for national external quality assurance system. Working closely with Ethiopian stakeholders to report results according to the nationally developed monitoring and evaluation scheme. The ASM program supports the laboratory strengthening goals of the GOE's National Strategic Plan II and the GOE and USG HIV/AIDS Partnership Framework and GHI.

Funding for Laboratory Infrastructure (HLAB): $150,000

ASM has been working closely with EHNRI and HHS/CDC to strengthen clinical microbiology with emphasis on TB, OIs and STIs. ASM has conducted basic microbiology training, provided mentorship to the national reference and two regional laboratories and reference books for 9 regional laboratories. A standard list of microbiology equipment, reagents and consumables was created to help the establishment and strengthening of microbiological laboratory services at selected facilities. In FY2012, ASM will provide TOT for routine and specialized microbiological procedures. The TOT training will build national capacity and is an important strategy for transitioning. ASM will provide site-level mentorship for EHNRI and selected regional microbiology referral laboratories. ASM will also provide support to the microbiology pre-service education which will be important in sustaining the support through local capacity building. PEPFAR/E in collaboration with EHNRI and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) is expanding TB liquid culture to selected regional sites. For this expansion, ASM will train laboratory technicians/technologists in instrument operation and maintenance, specimen transport, specimen processing, decontamination, procedures for culture and sensitivity testing, quality control and general trouble shooting of assays. ASM will support EHNRI for national microbiology External Quality Assessment program through supervisory visits, panel preparation, and test results and data analysis. ASM's support to prepare a panel in country will be helpful to sustain the program and attain cost-efficiency. ASM in collaboration with EHNRI will introduce competency assessment for the microbiology laboratory staff which will enable the country to attain adequate, qualified and motivated staff for OI, microbiology and STI diagnostic services. ASM will provide technical support to improve the quality of AFB smear microscopy for the implementation of the EQA program for AFB smear microcopy, safety related to TB and assist the rollout and validation of the EQA program.

Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $54,000
Human Resources for Health $54,000
Key Issues Identified in Mechanism
Tuberculosis