WHO AFRO External Competence Assessment of Malaria Microscopists

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 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.

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

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

• January 18 – 22, 2021
• March 22 – 26, 2021
• May 3 – 7, 2021
• July 26 – 30, 2021
• September 20 – 24, 2021
• November 1 – 5, 2021.

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.

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.

[email protected]

[email protected]