Training participants

Assessment: December 4 -12, 2004
ASCP conducted a needs assessment in preparation for the Training of Trainers (TOT). The assessment occurred from September 11-15, 2006 in Nairobi. Theresa Somrak (Director, ASCP Institute) and Nancy Grove, MD and Bill Grove, MD (ASCP consultants) conducted site visits of various laboratories within the National Public Health Laboratories System (NPHLS) as well as privately funded laboratories to gain first-hand knowledge of the challenges that face Kenyan laboratory professionals. The Clinical Laboratory plays a critical role in the monitoring of patients on antiretroviral therapy. The main objectives of the assessment were to visit various levels of NPHLS and to make recommendations regarding future Clinical Laboratory Training.

Training of Trainers (TOT): October 30 – November 10, 2006
In collaboration with CDC-Atlanta, CDC-Kenya, NPHLS, KEMRI and the Ministry of Health-Kenya, ASCP conducted a 2 week Training of Trainers (TOT) in Mombasa, Kenya, October 30 – November 10, 2006. The focus subjects were Clinical Chemistry, Hematology and CD4. The main objectives of the TOT were for the participants to learn and understand the training content and to become more comfortable with presenting the material. All of the TOT participants are expected to conduct trainings in their respective regions subsequent to the completion of the TOT.

Mzizima Medical Ctr.

Thirty-two TOT participants (11 in CD4, 9 in Hematology and 12 in Chemistry), representing all 8 regions, took part in subject-specific training and participated in the “Teach-back Methodology.” Nine engineers participated in one week of instrument training. All facets of the training took place at the Reef Hotel in Mombasa.

The first week of training consisted of extensive didactic lecture during the morning sessions, and hands-on instrument training during the afternoons. The second week of training focused on providing the participants an opportunity to practice their teaching skills. The didactic sessions were facilitated by ASCP consultants: Bette Jamieson, M.Ed, MT (ASCP) SH (Haem trainer), Whitney Smith, MT (ASCP) SH (Haem Trainer), Wanda Satkas, MBA, MT (ASCP) (Chem trainer), Perthena Latchaw, MS, MT (ASCP) (Chem trainer), Candace Golightly, MS, MLT (ASCP) (CD4 trainer) and Marc Golightly, PhD (CD4 trainer). Kaitlin Sandhaus (ASCP Institute) provided staff support and training coordination.

Provincial Roll-out Training: May 14-25, 2007
Nine of the thirty-two technologists, originally trained during the November TOT, traveled to Kakamega, Kenya to train thirty-six additional participants from the Western, Rift Valley and Nyanza Provinces. Two ASCP consultants, Cathy Robinson and Perthena Latchaw observed the didactic training for two weeks at the Golf Hotel, and the hands-on practical training held at the Kakamega Provincial General Hospital.

The purpose of the training was two-fold. One purpose was to give the recently trained technologists an opportunity to share the information on developing reliable laboratory services through the use of Quality Systems and to accurately monitor patients on ART with their colleagues. The second purpose was to increase the capacity of laboratories throughout Kenya, beginning with three provinces, and to be able to offer quality services to the clinicians and the clients by training technologists where they live and work.