2.4 Microbiology and Epidemiology Capacity Building

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Round Two grants support improvements in external quality assurance of laboratory testing, training, quality diagnostics, and policy and advocacy.

In many countries, microbiology forms only a small part of laboratory technologist / biomedical scientist training, and there is limited exposure to on-the-job training due to the lack of laboratories performing bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Similarly, there is a lack of epidemiological expertise to support surveillance programmes, and to analyse the data produced. This grant will therefore support the development and delivery of microbiology and epidemiology training relevant for AMR surveillance, in the human, animal and environmental sectors.

Lead Grantee:

African Society for Laboratory Medicine

Sub-Grantees:

Fondation Merieux; American Society for Microbiology; Africa CDC; Institut Pasteur; Institut de Recherche en Santé, de Surveillance Epidémiologique et de Formation

Duration:

Sep 2019 - Sep 2021

Value:

£3,924,547

Countries:

Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia

Objectives:

• Quality microbiology training is delivered to laboratory and surveillance staff from national reference laboratories (human, animal and environmental health)
• Key personnel are trained in epidemiology and surveillance methods for human, animal and environmental health laboratories and/or national coordination centres for AMR (e.g. AMR Coordination Committee or Technical Working Groups)
• Regional training for measuring economic costs is established