Abstract:
Objectives: The laboratory is considered the cornerstone
of tuberculosis (TB) control programme. International
review of Ghana’s programme in the late nineties
identified the laboratory services as the weakest
component. Sputum smear microscopy (SSM) being
the main method of diagnosing pulmonary TB in Ghana,
the training objectives were to: (i) strengthen the
knowledge and skills of laboratory personnel on SSM
(ii) impart necessary techniques in biosafety and (iii)
introduce a Quality Assurance (QA) system in order to
strengthen SSM services.
Methods: Personnel were selected for training during a
nationwide situation analysis of SSM centres in
2000/2001. Four training sessions on SSM/QA were
held between 2001/2004.
Results: A total of 80 personnel were trained: 10 regional
TB coordinators and 70 laboratory personnel.
The participants upon return to their respective regions
also organized training within their districts. This approach
resulted in another 100 district TB coordinators
and 200 laboratory personnel being trained. Improvement
in smear preparation, staining and reading ability
of the participants were observed during the post-test
and subsequent visit to their respective laboratories.
The training has led to strengthening of TB laboratory
services in the country and has contributed to increase
in case detection from 10,745 in 2000 to 11,827 in
2004 and 14,022 in 2008. It was observed during the
post-training follow-up and quarterly supervision visits
that morale of the personnel was high.
Conclusion: Continuous training and re-training of
laboratory personnel on SSM and QA at regular intervals
do play an important role for effective and efficient
TB control programme.