Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2012 2013

Details for Mechanism ID: 14050
Country/Region: Nigeria
Year: 2012
Main Partner: Johns Hopkins University
Main Partner Program: Bloomberg School of Public Health
Organizational Type: University
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $400,000

The K4Health/Nigeria Web-based Continuing Medical Laboratory Education (CMLE) Program is a two-year project that will provide opportunities for Laboratory Scientists to continuously improve their knowledge, update and sharpen old skills, acquire new ones, and broaden their horizons. CMLE is one of the strategies for continuous quality improvement of Clinical and Public Health Laboratory services. The objectives of this project are to (1) increase Medical Laboratory Scientists' access to quality CMLE programs, and in turn, improve the skills and proficiencies of laboratory professionals; (2) develop and build local capacity to design, implement, and manage a quality and sustainable CMLE program; and (3) institutionalize the consistent use of standard-CMLE credits as a requisite for licensure. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication will work closely with and support the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) and the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) to achieve these objectives. By working side-by-side with leaders and staff at MLSCN and AMLSN, the K4Health team will build their capacity and leadership to manage and implement this project from the onset. By the end of this project (September 18, 2013), at least 50% of Medical Laboratory Scientists (from a baseline that will be determined at the commencement of the project) will earn a CMLE credit from the MLSCN through the K4Health/Nigeria Web-based CMLE program. In COP12, JHU/K4Health will support the development and implementation of sustainability/Exit strategies and ensure smooth graduation of the CMLE program to the local entities (AMLSN AND MLSCN), in addition to conducting program outcome/impact assessment.

Funding for Laboratory Infrastructure (HLAB): $400,000

FY2012 funding will support the development of Continuous Medical Laboratory Education (CMLE) courses, by the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), the accreditation and assigning of credits to the CMLE courses by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), and more importantly, support the development of sustainability strategies. JHU/K4Health will provide the needed technical support and capacity building for all of these. In COP2012, JHU/K4Health will support the AMLSN and the MLSCN to expand available courses in the CMLE program, support the procurement of a local portal (through sub-grants) that will host the CMLE courses as a key sustainability strategy in addition to supporting continued capacity building of MLSCN and the AMLSN around all dimensions of eLearning, including eLearning instructional design methodology, the course development process, and use of the course authoring software. The two local organizations will further be supported by JHU/K4Health to develop CMLE Program sustainability plan and its implementation and ensure a smooth transition of the entire program management and administration to the local entities. The outcome and impact assessment of the funded program will also be undertaken in conjunction with USAID and the Local Partners. It is envisaged that by the end of FY2013, the MLSCN would have developed a policy that would require the use of CMLE credits as a pre-requisite for professional licensure; and that AMLSN would have developed capacity for the management and admistration of online CMLE program and ensured its continuous use by its members for professional development and proficiency improvement.

Subpartners Total: $0
Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria: NA
Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $400,000
Human Resources for Health $400,000
Key Issues Identified in Mechanism
enumerations.Malaria (PMI)
Tuberculosis