Provision of Consultancy and Technical support Services to Provide Technical Assistance to National AIDS Control Program to institutionalize Quality Improvement for better outcome of care- (2020-2021).
HLI is providing technical support to develop a responsive and sustainable quality management system that will support continuous quality improvement of HIV services at different levels of the health system in the country starting with the three regions of Tanzania mainland namely Lindi, Mwanza and Singida.
The project intends to develop a culture for Health care workers to identify and analyze performance gaps and monitor improvement in quality of health care delivery at health facilities that are providing care and treatment services in Tanzania
The rapid expansion and use of HIV Rapid Testing, in non-laboratory settings, requires continuous monitoring to ensure quality and accuracy of testing results, through proper training and implementation of innovative quality assurance (QA) activities.
HLI in collaboration with Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS), is providing Technical Assistance to expand Continuous Quality Improvement initiative to increase access and ensure Quality Assurance of HIV RT in all testing points within facilities at all levels of the health system-countrywide, focusing on supporting certification of HIV POCT testing sites, training of non-laboratory HCWs through ECHO, and monitoring of HIV testing algorithm.
Through this project, 13031 Non-laboratory HCWS from 132 councils in Tanzania have been trained on quality of HIV rapid testing. HLI has also, supported implementation of quality improvement activities in a total of 840 HIV testing points, in 442 Health facilities, in 132 councils
The overall purpose of the project is to support RTCQI best practices in Tanzania, though Implementation of national certification framework for HIV testers and testing sites. The focus of this project was to improve the competency of HIV testers and quality management of HIV testing points through onsite training, mentoring, and supporting Proficiency Testing (PT). The project was implemented in collaboration with regional Clinical IPs in Shinyanga, Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya, Songwe, and Dar es Salaam regions. Through this project; We trained on quality of HIV rapid testing to250 Non-laboratory HCWS from 16 councils in Tanzania. HLI has supported implementation of quality improvement activities in a total of 198 HIV testing points, in 54Health facilities, in 16 council
The project was implemented in Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya and Shinyanga to support provision of quality HIV testing services through improvement of HCWs competency in HIV RT testing and quality of Point of Care HIV testing (POCT). During this project HLI pioneered the introduction of HIV lab ECHO, as cost effective, based training model for non-laboratory HIV rapid testing staff. HLI supported the MOHCDGEC in development of National Certification Framework for Non-laboratory testers and testing sites, which was launched in 2017.The purpose of this framework was to provide guidance to strengthen national certification process for POCT sites and testers as recommended by the WHO and in accordance with “Health Laboratory Practitioners’ Act 22 of 2007.
A multicounty project, in Tanzania the urpose of the project is to Strengthen the specimen referral and transport system for surveillance, Outbreak diseases, and clinical samples in line with GHSA in Tanzania. Through this project, HLI in collaboration with MoHCDGEC designed and tested an electronic based Sample Referral system that enables timely tracking of sample transport process and timely return of test results to the referring laboratory and facility. The system uniquely identify and track the sample referral process and return of test results. The system has been piloted in 8 HFs in 6 districts of Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions. Through this project HLI, in collaboration with MoHCDGEC and other partner developed develop a sample transport system framework that carters for all referred samples.
The overall aim of project ECHO in Tanzania, is to increase workforce capacity for implementation of Quality Improvement in Health Care
Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcome (ECHO) is a training/mentoring collaborative model of education and case management which uses audio and video to reach Health Care Workers (HCW) in sharing best practices to improve the quality of health care services delivery. Project ECHO® is a life learning and guided practice model that revolutionizes medical education and exponentially increases workforce capacity to provide best practice and reduce health inequalities.
Project ECHO® decentralizes knowledge through case-based learning and sharing of knowledge among multidisciplinary subject matter experts (SME’s), teams of specialists, and facilitators on a specific subject matter. They connect at the “hub” and “spokes” regularly to learn from one another as part of a community of practice and learning. Together hub and spoke teams hold teleECHO sessions to discuss clinical cases and conduct didactic teaching.
The model was officially launched in Tanzania, in November 2016 as a training and mentorship model for HIV non-laboratory testers under HIV Lab ECHO Clinic. It aimed to facilitate the certification programme of HIV non-Laboratory Testers who are required to be licensed by the Health Laboratory Practitioner’s Council (HLPC) under the Act No. 22 of 2007 of the Parliament.
Since its launch in 2016, the National Health Laboratory Quality Assurance and Training Center (NHL-QATC) was selected as the main hub and five regional hospitals selected to serve as spokes; Iringa Regional Hospital, Njombe (Kibena) Regional Hospital, Mbeya Regional Hospital, Shinyanga Regional Hospital and the Dar es salaam Amana Regional Referral Hospital.
Through this project: HLI in collaboration with African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) supported Weekly ECHO session for HIV non-laboratory HCWs testers, in Shinyanga, Iringa, Njombe, Mbenya and Songwe regions through Coordination and provision of internet connectivity to HUB and spokes sites in Tanzania. The project evaluation demonstrate increase in participation and knowledge