Phlebotomy training: August 22-24, 2006
ASCP sponsored a Phlebotomy training workshop for 19 non-laboratorians in Maseru, Lesotho. The 3 day event consisted of didactic and hands on venipuncture experience. The workshop was facilitated by ASCP consultants Kathleen Finnegan, MS,MT(ASCP)SH and Catherine Murphy-Vetter,MS,MT(ASCP)SCT. Following the training, discussions were held between Ms. Mosilili, Lesotho MOH, David McAlister, PhD, CDC, Trevor Peter, Joy Sun and Aaron Choi, Clinton Foundation, and Barbara Hoffman, ASCP. The discussions involved further exploration of ASCP’s scope of work with regard to supporting training in the areas of chemistry, haematology, CD4 testing and laboratory management, as well as working with the National Health Training College faculty in revising/updating the curriculum for medical technologist diploma program.

Technical Assistance: June 19-July 7, 2006; September 18 – October 6, 2006; June 6 – 22, 2007
From June 19 to July 7, 2006, Barbara Chase McKinney, MD, MPH, FASCP traveled to Maseru, Lesotho to conduct an assessment of laboratory services and offer technical assistance in laboratory quality. Dr. McKinney visited medical laboratories at Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mohale’s Hoek, Mafeteng, Scott Hospital (CHAL), Queen Elizabeth II, and Blood Bank at QE II in Maseru. Dr. McKinney assessed the facilities in these laboratories and offered recommendations on a quality assurance system, space, equipment, consumables, data collection and management, laboratory safety, and human capacity.

Dr. McKinney returned to Lesotho September 18 to October 6, 2006 to continue her work. While in Lesotho, Dr. McKinney visited Maluti Adventist Hospital, Berea, Mantsonyane – St. James, Roma – St. Joseph’s, Qacha’s Nek – Maatebeng Hospital, Tebellong Hospital, facilitated a quality assurance seminar, and made more recommendations for better laboratory management. The seminar, titled A Jumpstart to the Quality Assurance Program, was a collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare – Lesotho, CDC, the Clinton Foundation, and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Thirty-nine (39) participants spent 2 days learning about the five principles of quality assurance, specimen management, the quality assurance cycle, internal and external quality control, standard operating procedures, and record keeping. Dr. McKinney also gave suggestions on how to prioritize the current quality assurance program implementation.

Dr. McKinney returned to Lesotho June 6 – 22, 2007 to continue her work. On her third trip, Dr. McKinney’s assignment was to develop and implement a quality assurance program for rapid HIV testing. Dr. McKinney worked with all aspects of the Know Your Status campaign including facility-based counseling and testing as well as community counseling. The work involved on-site assessment of facilities and the testing process, collation and analysis of findings, and provision of recommendations and an action plan for moving forward in the future. Developing a shared vision with stakeholders was initiated at the beginning of the visit. Dr. McKinney closed her trip with a working round table stakeholder discussion to elicit ownership of the action plan items. Dr. McKinney will return to Lesotho in August 2007 to continue work on the action plan developed in June.

Module Customization/Preservice Training Curriculum Revision: November 6-11, 2006
In Maseru, Lesotho, a team of ASCP consultants met with laboratory leaders in that country from November 6-11 to customize the chemistry, hematology and CD4 testing training modules for use in Lesotho. The ASCP consultants that traveled to Lesotho included Linda Fell, MS, MT(ASCP)SH, Vicki Freeman, PhD, MT(ASCP)SC, and Thomas Alexander, PhD. The meeting also included discussions on the revision of the country’s diploma program curriculum for laboratory professionals.

The consultants reported that they could see Barb McKinney’s work in action, as they observed data collection techniques, standard operating procedures, and temperature charts.

CD4, Clinical Chemistry, and Hematology Training: July 15 – 26, 2007
In collaboration with Ministry of Health and Social Welfare – Lesotho, the Clinton Foundation HIV-AIDS Initiative, and the National Health Training College, ASCP conducted two CD4, Clinical Chemistry, and Hematology trainings at the National Health Training College in Maseru, Lesotho. The training sessions consisted of extensive didactic lecture during the morning sessions, and hands-on instrument training during the afternoons. 37 laboratory professionals from across Lesotho participated in the two sessions. The didactic sessions were facilitated by Tom Alexander, PhD, Cindy Johns MSA, MT(ASCP) SH, Sherrie Hyder MT (ASCP), Amy McGranahan, MT(ASCP), Karen Brown MS, MT(ASCP), and Perthena Latchaw MS, MT(ASCP). Shannon Heard and Toria Shaw provided staff support and training coordination.