Seminar #1

SLIPTA and SLMTA Symposium

Hosted by: African Society for Laboratory Medicine and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

No invitations necessary; open to all conference registrants

Saturday, 3 December & Sunday, 4 December
8:00-17:30
CTICC room location: Roof Terrace

TARGET AUDIENCE:
This symposium will be of interest to lead SLIPTA/SLMTA implementers and key stakeholders such as Ministry of Health leadership, partners, hospital administrations, and clinicians.

SEMINAR DESCRIPTION:
Since the launch in 2009, SLMTA and SLIPTA (two complementary initiatives for continuous quality improvement) have transformed the laboratory landscape and ignited a movement around the world. As we strive to sustain the momentum and achieve bigger impact, we must intensify efforts and set sights on the next frontier. In this symposium, we will examine the transition from SLIPTA audits to ISO accreditation. We will discuss how to use these initiatives to support HIV viral load scale-up and to bridge the clinic-laboratory divide for patient-centric care. We will showcase laboratorians who have been leading hospital quality improvement efforts. In addition to plenary sessions, various topics solicited from the field via a survey will be covered through breakout round table discussions.

This symposium brings together the implementers and key stakeholders to celebrate their successes and share lessons learned. Participants will discuss how to sustain the momentum to achieve broader and deeper impact. The SLMTA/SLIPTA network will be strengthened and south-to-south collaboration fostered. Refresher and advance-level short courses will be offered to help participants take the program to the next level.

Please join us in this fun, high-energy and memorable event. Country teams will compete to showcase their SLMTA spirits through culturally unique song-and-dance performances. Prizes will be raffled throughout the symposium.

SESSION LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

  • Receive updates on SLMTA and SLIPTA
  • Discuss lessons learned and exchange tips and best practices
  • Discuss lessons learned and exchange tips and best practices
  • Learn about new tools
  • Develop new skills and knowledge
  • Build new relationships and strengthen existing networks
  • Celebrate successes
  • Get re-energized to continue to spread the “movement”

SESSION SPEAKERS:

Keynote by Dr. John Nkengasong, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Since 2005, Dr. Nkengasong has served as the Associate Director of Laboratory Science and Chief of the International Laboratory Branch at the Division of Global HIV & TB, Center for Global Health, CDC. He also co-chairs the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s (PEPFAR) Laboratory Technical Working Group. Between 1993-95 he was Chief of the Virology and the WHO Collaborating Center on HIV diagnostics, at the Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. In 1995, he joined CDC as Chief of the Virology Laboratory, CDC Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He received a Masters in Tropical Biomedical Science at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, and another Masters Degree and PhD in Medical Sciences with specialization in virology at the University of Brussels School of Medicine, Belgium. He has received numerous awards for his work including, but not limited to, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services Award for Excellence in Public Health Protection Research, four Sheppard Award nominees and/or Awards, several Director’s Recognitions Awards and, most recently, the William Watson Medal of Excellence; the highest recognition awarded by CDC, awarded for outstanding contributions and leadership in advancing global laboratory services and programs to support the PEPFAR. He is also the recipient of the National Order of the Republic of the Ivory Coast from the government of Cote d’Ivoire for his outstanding work in public health in that country. He has authored/co-authored >180 peer-review journal articles and book chapters. He has also served on various international advisory boards and several committees at WHO and UNAIDS.