Malaria Laboratory Diagnosis and Monitoring (MLDM)

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Date of Operation: 2010 – 2012

Primary Implementing Partner: Columbia University International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) in Ethiopia

Regions of Operation: Amhara, Dire Dawa, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray

Goal:

Provide technical, strategic, managerial and operational support to implement and strengthen malaria laboratory diagnosis activities in Ethiopia, thereby contributing to PMI’s goal of achieving a 70% reduction in malaria-associated mortality by 2013.

Objectives:

  • Ensure the availability of quality malaria laboratory diagnosis at health facilities in Ethiopia by improving blood film microscopy and utilization of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs).

Description:

The Malaria Laboratory Diagnosis and Monitoring (MLDM) project aims to strengthen the malaria diagnostic capacity of laboratories in Oromia, Ethiopia by providing technical, strategic, managerial and operational support to the Oromia Regional Health Bureau, the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI) and the Ministry of Health.

This is accomplished by reviewing, updating and developing malaria laboratory diagnosis policy guidelines and training materials, conducting training of clinical and laboratory health professionals in malaria laboratory diagnosis and quality assessment and quality control. It also focuses on quality assurance for malaria diagnostics, and training in proper use of the diagnostics tests at all levels of the health care system, including community health workers, to assure that health care workers and patients use the test results as part of more effective management of fever cases

Expected Results:

  • Establish a taskforce of all stakeholders for better the partnerships and improved coordination of the national malaria laboratory diagnosis and monitoring activities
  • Finalize the National Manual for Parasitological Diagnosis of Malaria
  • Establish a national malaria slide bank at EHNRI in collaboration with the Improving Malaria Diagnostics (IMaD) project.
  • Initiate the National Accreditation Scheme for malaria microcopy based on World Health Organization (WHO) standards in collaboration with the IMaD project.
  • Complete three operational research activities:
    • Assessment of adherence to artemether-lumefantrine (AL) for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Ethiopia
    • Therapeutic efficacy of anti-malarial drugs in an operational setting according to the protocol developed by WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    • Assess the burden of Malaria/HIV co-infections in HIV and malaria patients attending health facilities in Oromia.

See also: Improving Malaria Diagnostics (IMaD)