Previous Activities

Lab Management Training of Trainers and Roll-Out: October 1 – 10, 2007 and December 7 – 14, 2007
Working with CDC-Atlanta, CDC-Tanzania and the Tanzania Ministry of Health, ASCP conducted an eight-day Training of Trainers (TOT) in Morogoro, Tanzania, October 1 – 10, 2007. Twenty-one TOT participants and eleven co-facilitators, representing all four zones and Zanzibar, took part in facility based laboratory management training and participated in “Teach-back Methodology.” The didactic and teach-back sessions were facilitated by ASCP consultants: Wendy Arneson MS, MT(ASCP), Michele Best MT(ASCP), and Marian Cavagnaro MS, MT(ASCP). Toria Shaw (ASCP Institute) provided staff support and training coordination. The framework for Laboratory Management training in Tanzania was put together during the July 2007 National Training Plan meeting in Dar es Salaam with ASCP staff and key in-country stakeholders representing MOHSW, CDC, WHO, AMREF, and NIMR.

Following the TOT, Marian Cavagnaro observed the regional roll-out training in Morogoro (December 7 – 14, 2007). As an ASCP consultant, Marian Cavagnaro provided feedback, answered questions and suggestions for improvement as well as praise to new trainers.

Curriculum Review Meeting: March 12 – 16, 2007
ASCP’s scope of work in Tanzania has expanded to include pre-service curriculum development. ASCP consultants Vicki Freeman, PhD, MT(ASCP)Sc, Bette Jamieson, M.Ed, MT (ASCP) SH and Candace Golightly, MS, MLT(ASCP) attended meetings, March 12 – 16, 2007, to discuss curricula gaps with Laboratory School principals and key lab school tutors.

The Lab School principals presented their gap analyses at the March 12 – 16 meeting in Dar es Salaam. ASCP consultants facilitated a lecture and discussion regarding the development of educational objectives. The participants were divided into subject specific groups to develop objectives for the gaps in the curriculum. The exercise was well received and the participants agreed to revise the objectives for their current curricula also. The Lab School principals and tutors resolved to develop a standardized curriculum for all participating schools.

The ASCP Pre-Service Work Group has been tasked with revising current curriculum and developing supplemental materials as needed.

Module Simplification Workshop: March 12 – 16, 2007
In follow-up to the TOT and subsequent roll-out trainings, CDC-Tanzania and the Tanzania Ministry of Health requested the presence of ASCP at a module simplification workshop in Dar es Salaam, March 12 – 16, 2007. The Combined-Subject, Chemistry, Haematology and CD4 modules were simplified for bench-level participants. The meeting participants included current zonal trainers and members of the National Training Team.

National Multi-Sectoral AIDS Conference: December 18 – 21, 2006
The Third National Multi-Sectoral AIDS Conference (MAC) was held in Arusha, Tanzania to review progress achieved in responding to the continuing challenges brought about by HIV/AIDS since the 2nd MAC held four years ago. In May 2006, the United Nations issued a report indicating that Tanzania fell short in achieving goals set forth in the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS as compared to other sub-Sahara African countries. The report indicated that Tanzania did not have policies and programs for some of the most at-risk populations and the Multi-Sectoral AIDS Conference provided an arena to discuss opportunities for growth and brainstorm solutions. ASCP consultant Janice Tompkins, MPH, MT(ASCP) gave a presentation focused on the outcomes of the Tanzania TOT and subsequent regional roll-out trainings. Ms. Tompkins also presented a poster comparing the qualitative and quantitative data from trainings conducted in Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Regional Roll-Out Trainings: August 28 – September 8, 2006
The TOT participants (from the May 2006 TOT) were charged with developing budgets and strategic plans for rolling out trainings in their respective zones. All phases of the roll out were supported and overseen by the National Training Team. The Ministry of Health, CDC-Tanzania and other partners have provided additional support.

The week of August 28 – September 1, trainings were held in Iringa, Mwanza and Moshi. The week of September 4 – 8, trainings were held in Morogoro and Zanzibar. In each zone, 20 participants were separated into three groups and trained in Chemistry, Hematology or CD4.

ASCP consultants observed the trainings in each zone and assisted by providing feedback to the zonal trainers and offering guidance as needed. Marian Cavagnaro MS, MT(ASCP)DLM observed Mwanza and Morogoro; Janice Tompkins, MPH, MT(ASCP) observed the Iringa and Zanzibar trainings and Perthena Latchaw, MS, MT(ASCP) observed the training in Moshi.

Training of Trainers (TOT): May 22 – June 2, 2006
In collaboration with CDC-Atlanta, CDC-Tanzania, NMRI and the Tanzania Ministry of Health, ASCP conducted a 2 week Training of Trainers (TOT) in Arusha, Tanzania, May 22 – June 2, 2006. The main objectives of the TOT are for the participants to learn and understand the training content and to become fluent with presenting the material. All of the TOT participants are expected to conduct trainings in their respective zones subsequent to the completion of the TOT.

Thirty-one TOT participants, representing all four zones and Zanzibar, took part in subject-specific training (Hematology, Clinical Chemistry or CD4) and participated in “Teach-back Methodology.” Five engineers participated in one-week of instrument training. ASCP trainers included Marian Cavagnaro, MS, MT(ASCP)DLM, Bette Jamieson, M.Ed, MT(ASCP)SH, Candace Golightly,MS, MLT(ASCP), Leslie Wolfsen, MLT(ASCP), Perthena Latchaw, MS, MT(ASCP) and Janice Tompkins, MPH, MT(ASCP). ASCP staff support was provided by Barbara Hoffman and Kaitlin Sandhaus.

Assessment: February 13 – 17, 2006
In February of 2006, Theresa Somrak and Wanda Satkas conducted a follow-up assessment and gap analysis. During the February assessment, ASCP assisted with the development of the Training of Trainers plan to be implemented in May of 2006.

Training: June 13 – 24, 2005
The educational event was held over a two week period, June 13 – 24 at the Paradise Resort in Bagamoyo. The participants of the training event included twenty-four senior laboratorians, with four members representing each of the six regions in Tanzania.

The hematology training was facilitated by Marian Cavagnaro and Michele Best; the chemistry training was facilitated by Wendy Arneson and Perthena Latchaw. The hematology and chemistry training was supported with presentations by David Ocheng, Dr. Robert Ntakamulenga, Mwanapenda Mzee and Dr. Edward Kabyelmela. ASCP staff Theresa Somrak provided staff support the first few days of the training. The week of June 20 – 24 consisted of CD4 training, didactic as well as hands on instrumentation training. The CD4 modules were presented by ASCP trainer Candace Golightly, MS, MLT(ASCP), CDC-Atlanta staff Tom Spira, MD and in-country specialist Dr. Willie Urasa. ASCP staff Barbara Hoffman provided staff support during the second week of training.

Assessment: June 6 – 10, 2005
Representatives of the ASCP, CDC-Tanzania, AMREF and CDC-Atlanta conducted sight visits and an assessment from June 6 – 10, 2005 in Dar es Salaam. The site visit/needs assessment delegation consisted of ASCP trainers: Wendy Arneson, MS, MT(ASCP), Michele Best, MS, MT(ASCP), Marian Cavagnaro, MS, MT(ASCP)DLM, Perthena Latchaw, MS, MT(ASCP); ASCP staff: Theresa Somrak, JD, CT(ASCP); CDC-Atlanta staff: Carlyn Collins, MD, David McAlister, PhD; CDC-Tanzania staff: Yahya Ipuge, MD, Epafra Anga; AMREF staff: David Ocheng, WHO-Tanzania representative Charles Kagoma, and Tanzania ministry of Health staff-Dr. Faustine Ndugulile.