WHO AFRO External Competence Assessment of Malaria Microscopists (ECAMM)

Laboratory confirmation of malaria infection is an essential component of fever case management, and should be provided at all levels of healthcare to ensure correct patient management, and minimise the use and cost of anti-malarial drugs. The Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015 with the aim of achieving a malaria-free world by 2030. To achieve this goal, countries must adopt policies and practices that improve the quality of malaria diagnosis. Improved quality of laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of malaria will retain the confidence of clinicians in laboratory results, leading to improved case management and appropriate use of antimalarial drugs.

The overall aim of the course is to establish core national and regional experts in malaria microscopy to promote implementation of quality malaria diagnostic services in Africa.

The objectives of the External Competence Assessment of Malaria Microscopists course are to:

1. Objectively and formally assess the competence of malaria microscopists.
2. Provide refresher training in all aspects of malaria microscopy based on standardised instruction and revision.

The course assesses essential knowledge and competences in all aspects of malaria microscopy, and provides competency levels according to the World Health Organization (WHO) approved grading system. Participants achieving Levels One and Two are expected to provide and facilitate quality training in malaria diagnosis, specifically microscopy, to improve the quality of malaria diagnosis at pre-service and in-service levels; and to support national quality assurance programmes. Participants at Levels Three and Four are expected to take steps to improve their performance and return after one year for reassessment.

This course is organised jointly by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) and Amref Health Africa’s Regional Laboratory Programme. The course is held at Amref’s Central Laboratory, Nairobi, Kenya. Alternative locations are considered on request. A maximum of 12 participants are accepted per course.

The course will be conducted in Nairobi, Kenya, on the following dates:

• March 28 – April 1, 2022
• May 2 – 6, 2022  
• July 25 – 29, 2022 
• September 26 – 30, 2022
• November 14 – 18, 2022

Participants may be laboratory technologists, laboratory technicians, laboratory scientists and pathologists working mainly in the malaria or parasitology section of the laboratory, and who have oversight responsibilities for improving malaria diagnostic services in their countries or regions. It is expected that National Malaria Control Programmes will play a major role in nominating participants involved in national malaria diagnostic activities.

This 5-day intensive and interactive course has a minimum structured time of 35 tutor contact hours, consisting of lectures, presentations and discussions, laboratory practice and slide review, and demonstrations. Daily sessions will be 4 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon each day for theory, reading and review of pre-prepared slides characterised to WHO standards.

This course covers the following modules:

• Module 1: Course introduction, structure and administrative issues
• Module 2: Overview of malaria: global malaria situation and epidemiology of malaria
• Module 3: Microscope use and care
• Module 4: Revision of malaria parasite species (P.f, P.v, P.o, P.m and P.k) microscopically
• Module 5: Revision of malaria parasite counting
• Module 6: Revision of blood elements, pseudo-parasites and artefacts
• Module 7: Quality assurance programmes in malaria laboratory diagnosis.

Participants should be prepared to provide information of malaria laboratory diagnostic activities in their countries, including quality assurance measures, and prepare and present draft workplans for improving national malaria microscopy services.

Throughout the course, participants will be assessed to determine their acquisition of knowledge, skills and competence. Participants will be finally assessed according to WHO Levels from One (most competent) to Four (least competent), based on performance, and will receive a certificate indicating the Level achieved.

USD 1400 per person which covers the following:

• USD 710: for tuition which includes: provision and maintenance of the slide bank, training materials including printing, facilitation and coordination, laboratory supplies and use of equipment and training facilities
• USD 90: for lunch, tea and snacks – this cost is additional to tuition
• USD 600: for accommodation, dinner, local transport and incidental costs for residential participants.

Note:

• Fees do not cover return travel and visa expenses from the participants’ working stations to Nairobi; or care of pre-existing medical conditions.
• Travel insurance is mandatory for all participants attending Nairobi-based courses to cover medical emergencies.

Kindly contact Amref International University for further information:

[email protected] or [email protected]