Leveraging gains from African Center for Integrated Laboratory Training to combat HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background In sub-Saharan Africa, there is dearth of trained laboratorians and strengthened laboratory systems to provide adequate and quality laboratory services for enhanced HIV control. In response to this challenge, in 2007, the African Centre for Integrated Laboratory Training (ACILT) was established in South Africa with a mission to train staffs from countries with high burdens of diseases in skills needed to strengthen sustainable laboratory systems. This study was undertaken to assess the transference of newly gained knowledge and skills to other laboratory staff, and to identify enabling and obstructive factors to their implementation. Methods We used Kirkpatrick model to determine training effectiveness by assessing the transference of newly gained knowledge and skills to participant’s work environment, along with measuring enabling and obstructive factors. In addition to regular course evaluations at ACILT (pre and post training), in 2015 we sent e-questionnaires to 867 participants in 43 countries for course participation between 2008 and 2014. Diagnostics courses included Viral Load, and systems strengthening included strategic planning and Biosafety and Biosecurity. SAS v9.44 and Excel were used to analyze retrospective de-identified data collected at six months pre and post-training. Results Of the 867 participants, 203 (23.4%) responded and reported average improvements in accuracy and timeliness in Viral Load programs and to systems strengthening. For Viral Load testing, frequency of corrective action for unsatisfactory proficiency scores improved from 57 to 91%, testing error rates reduced from 12.9% to 4.9%; 88% responders contributed to the first national strategic plan development and 91% developed strategies to mitigate biosafety risks in their institutions. Key enabling factors were team and management support, and key obstructive factors included insufficient resources and staff’s resistance to change. Conclusions Training at ACILT had a documented positive impact on strengthening the laboratory capacity and laboratory workforce and substantial cost savings. ACILT’s investment produced a multiplier effect whereby national laboratory systems, personnel and leadership reaped training benefits. This laboratory training centre with a global clientele contributed to improve existing laboratory services, systems and networks for the HIV epidemic and is now being leveraged for COVID-19 testing that has infected 41,332,899 people globally.

HIV viral load suppression before and after COVID-19 in Kinshasa and Haut Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo

“…Differentiated service delivery applies across the HIV continuum to all three of the 95-95-95 targets (95% of PLHIV should know their status; 95% who know their status should be on ART; 95% of those on ART should be virologically suppressed). 10 Sustaining services that provide adequate VL testing to monitor ART response in patients 3,11 and clearing backlogs to increase the number of persons tested can maintain HIV control during a COVID-19 pandemic. 3,12 A study in Atlanta, United States, showed increased cancellation of appointments during the onset of COVID-19; however, ART adherence improved during the initial month of COVID-19 response.…”

Measuring training effectiveness of laboratory biosafety program offered at African Center for Integrated Laboratory Training in 22 President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief supported countries (2008–2014)

“…Each of the 32 countries country selected and paid for their biosafety officers, laboratory managers, bench staff, professional trainers, institutional management, and facility engineers. For a more detailed breakdown of demographic characteristics of participants please refer to a previous publication [8].…”

“…To address the afore mentioned needs the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEP-FAR), and the South African National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) launched African Center for Integrated Laboratory Training (ACILT). From 2007 to 2016, ACILT provided free, hands-on training courses for laboratorians with a goal to prepare a competent laboratory workforce, strengthen laboratory systems, enhance diagnostics capacity in SSA [8].…”

“…In 2015, e-questionnaires for all courses offered at ACILT, including biosafety, were sent to the 867 participants from 43 countries who attended between 2008 and 2014. A previously published manuscript [8] provides a holistic analysis of the combined transference of knowledge of 867 participants from 43 countries attending 75 course offerings [8]. This manuscript will describe the analysis from e-questionnaires sent to the 402/867 participants attending 20 biosafety courses from 32 countries.…”

Tinjauan Literatur Sistematis: Analisis Swot Dalam Manajemen Keuangan Perusahaan

“…Hal ini akan mengarah pada perbaikan kegagalan usaha kecil dan meningkatkan pertumbuhan ekonomi negara (Rachapaettayakom et al, 2020). Faktor pendukung utama untuk mewujudkan hal tersebut adalah dengan adanya dukungan tim dan manajemen, dan faktor penghambat utama termasuk sumber daya yang tidak mencukupi dan penolakan staf untuk berubah (Shrivastava et al, 2021).…”