KHRC holds its second training in microscopy

A two-week microscopy training, sponsored by the INDEPTH- Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance (MCTA) was held at the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) from November 17, 2008 to December 3, 2008.The training aimed at improving the skills of malaria microscopists in the diagnosis of malaria, as part of the goals of the malaria clinical trials sites in harmonizing malaria microscopy that feeds into malaria drugs and vaccine trials sponsored by the Medicine for Malaria Ventures (MMV) and the Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI).

This workshop brought facilitators from the Malaria Diagnostic Centres of Excellence at the Kintampo Health Research Centre and the Kenyan Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and United States Army Medical Research Unit (USAMRU-K) Kisumu. The 14-day training was facilitated by the Ghana and Kenya teams led by Mohammed Adams and Christine Adhiambo respectively.

MCTA, an INDEPTH Network project supported this workshop which addressed fundamental issues relating to building both human and infrastructural capacity in clinical trial sites in Africa, so as to help accelerate the optimal evaluation of new vaccines and drugs as they become available.

Microscopy remains the gold standard for malaria diagnosis in routine care in our health services as well as intervention research. It is however subjective and could lead to diagnostic errors such as false negatives, false positives, parasite quantification just to mention a few, in situations where the microscopist does not have the requisite equipment, is not well-trained and/or motivated. For such reasons, this training was organised to help improve upon the competence and strength of microscopists.

This training was designed with the target of improving malaria diagnosis in both clinical and research areas, harmonizing/standardizing malaria microscopy procedures and practices, establishing competence and partnerships among participating institutions.

Aspects of the training included understanding the life cycle of malaria, malaria clinical presentations, parasite detection, species differentiation, parasite quantification and buffer preparation. Other topics included malaria blood film preparation and staining, equipment care and maintenance, quality control and assurance as well as rapid diagnostic tests for malaria. Assessment of participants took the forms of written exams, malaria slide reading, species identification, parasite counting and picture test.

In all, a total of 14 participants mainly laboratory technologists, laboratory technicians and research scientists were drawn from Burkina Faso(2), Ghana(3), Kenya(1), Malawi(2), Mozambique(1), Senegal (1) and Tanzania(4).

At the closing ceremony which took place at the conference room of KHRC, the facilitators and a representative of the participants had some words to share. One thing all the facilitators stressed was that, participants should endeavour to use what they had learnt during the training to the betterment of all. Participants were also discouraged from being selfish with the knowledge they had acquired by disseminating it to their respective sites.

Christine Adhiambo, a facilitator from Kenya was very impressed at the way the training was conducted and happy that a Malaria Diagnostic Centre of Excellence has finally been established at the Kintampo Health Research Centre.

She spelt out some challenges they faced during the training and one of them being language barrier. The participants who came from the French-speaking countries excelled in the practical work, but when it came to the written tests in English, they were found wanting. This challenge she reiterated had been with previous trainings and therefore suggested that INDEPTH/MCTA consider establishing a centre in a French speaking country, if at all possible.

A representative of the participants, Juma Ally Akida mentioned that the training had been so beneficial to them and promised they would share what had been learnt with others as they travelled back to their respective institutions. Successful participants received certificates and transcripts.

In his closing remarks, the chairman of the ceremony, Dr.Seth Owusu-Agyei, who is the director of KHRC and INDEPTH board chair, said the training was the second microscopy training organised and sponsored by INDEPTH-MCTA that has been held at KHRC. Listening to the comments of participants and facilitators, Dr.Owusu-Agyei said the training had realised lots of improvement over the first one and this he said was “extremely remarkable hearing that throughout the workshop, the participants were humble, cooperative and hardworking”.

He underscored the essence of the routine training opportunities which he said the INDEPTH-MCTA and the RTS,S Clinical Trials Partnership Committee (CTPC) of the malaria vaccine group and other clinical trials networks have been offering not only to microscopists ,but all the other identifiable groups with the aim of getting them do things the same way in the clinical trials. The reason being that, results generated from any of the participating clinical trial sites could be pooled for generality.

Dr.Owusu-Agyei again indicated that it was gratifying that one more microscopy centre of excellence for malaria work in Africa has been set up in Kintampo. He assured that “we will work extremely hard to keep this training going until we get to the point where malaria will no more be of any public health importance”.

He challenged facilitators from KHRC to come out with a course outline to train microscopists within the Ghana Health Service. This will help improve significantly the quality of microscopy in the hospitals.

For more info contact:

Kabio Casimir Donlebo (Communications Officer).
Kintampo Health Research Centre
P.O.Box 200
Kintampo.B/A.
Tel: +233 246 391916