Metrics details. Covid pandemic continues to rage and affect our country with notable 37, cases and deaths in Tanzania. Those who returned were refunded transport costs. List of unreachable clients was left to CBHs, peers and lay counselors for physical follow-up. Through call back strategy doses of Moderna Vaccines which were nearly to expire were rescued. Innovations within implementation are key in accelerating timely achievements in program indicators along with monitoring of consumables and preventing wastage of resources.
However, achieving the QMS standard needs political will, collaborative efforts and resources for capacity building and supportive supervision. We aim to share experiences from Tanzania since when the country began interventions for improving QMS in medical laboratories. A retrospective analysis of program data between and ASLM 3 or more stars was the criteria for enrolment into accreditation program.
Enrolled laboratories receive mentorship, QMS trainings, and supportive supervisions. Between to international mentors conducted at least three rounds of mentorships per year.
From the qualified local mentors conducted three rounds of two-weeks mentorship per year then two rounds of one-week mentorship by international mentors. Laboratory managers and quality officers were attached to accredited laboratories for practical, in-class trainings and supportive supervision by the Ministry of Health with other stakeholders.
Between and when we had no local mentors in the accreditation processes, 12 out of 15 laboratories were accredited with ISO standards. Between and June, the local mentors were involved and among 85 laboratories enrolled for accreditation, 43 laboratories were accredited with ISO standards, 5 laboratories did not qualify, 12 pending for assessment while 20 were on mentorship program prior assessment. The involvement of local mentors and collaborative efforts by various stakeholders resulted in a four-fold increase in the accreditation of health laboratories within a short period.
