An international global health partnership established by The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) to strengthen pathology and laboratory medicine services covering a population of over 110 million people in sub-Saharan Africa has been shortlisted for the 2016 Times Higher Education Award in the International Collaboration of the Year category.

The partnership of 11 institutions based in the UK, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, worked together to establish and pilot an innovative project called LabSkills Africa – a capacity building initiative which worked with 20 laboratories across the five African countries over a period of 30 months to improve their diagnostic testing practices and services.  In total 100 pathologists, biomedical scientists, laboratory technicians and technologists were trained and mentored during the pilot, which focused on improving the skills set for a number of key tests, including rapid malaria, HIV antibody, tuberculosis smear microscopy, peripheral blood film and urinalysis used for the diagnosis of common childhood and maternal conditions in sub-Saharan Africa such as severe anaemia, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. 

Dr Suzy Lishman, President of the College commented:

“We are delighted to have made this year’s shortlist for the Times Higher Education Award.  This has been an important international collaboration for the College which has led to measurable improvements in the quality and accuracy of the tests being performed by the laboratories who took part in the pilot.  Prior to the collaboration, only 35% of the laboratories had conducted regular clinician surveys and there was little evidence that issues highlighted in the survey findings were being addressed.  By the end of the pilot, 95% of the laboratories were not only conducting surveys but also actively addressing the areas identified as requiring improvement.  70% of them reduced their turn-around times by an average of 20% and this has led to an increase in the confidence of the clinicians in the laboratory results.”

The LabSkills Africa initiative was led by The Royal College of Pathologists in partnership with the College of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa (COPECSA), the British Division of the International Academy of Pathology (BDIAP), the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi (AKUHN), Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), 

More than 25 highly experienced volunteer pathologists and biomedical scientists from the UK, Canada, Australia, Nigeria and South Africa were deployed, many of whom are Fellows of the College were deployed as mentors to support the training and coaching of the local health professionals and laboratories.  Activities in each project country was supported by professional pathology associations or university teaching hospitals as ‘Country Partners’:

(a)     Kenyan Association of Clinical Pathologists
(b)     Association of Pathologists of Tanzania
(c)     Association of Pathologists of Uganda
(d)     University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka (Zambia)
(e)     Zimbabwe Association of Pathologists

Dr Shahin Sayed, Secretary-General of College of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa (COPECSA) commented:

“Poor laboratory services leads to inappropriate or delayed treatment and increased mortality rates amongst women and children from preventable diseases and illnesses. Our collaboration and partnership with The Royal College of Pathologists, BDIAP and other organisations on the Continent has been critical to addressing the challenges that we face in sub-Saharan Africa.  We are extremely pleased that an international collaboration such as this has been recognised by the Times Higher Education Award.”

Dr Alec Howat, President of the British Division of the International Academy of Pathology (BDIAP) commented: 

“The LabSkills Africa initiative was delivered through a collaborative international health partnership that has strengthened the professional relationship between pathologists, scientists and technologists within the laboratory.  We are extremely pleased to be involved in this collaboration and honoured that this exemplary model of partnership working within a global health context has made the Times Higher Education Award shortlist.”

Notes 

• The Times Higher Education (THE) Awards is widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the higher education sector.  More than 650 nomination entries were received across all the award categories this year.
   
• The Royal College of Pathologists is a professional membership organisation dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of pathology. There are currently approximately 10,500 members, all of whom are pathologists and scientists based in hospitals, universities and laboratories in the UK and overseas. The College’s main tasks are to set and maintain training standards for doctors and scientists, to advise on the appointment of consultants, to ensure the membership is kept up to date with current practice through the continuing professional development scheme, and to promote the latest developments in pathology by holding scientific meetings.  The College’s mission is to promote excellence in the practice of pathology and to be responsible for maintaining standards through training, assessments, examinations and professional development.

• The LabSkills Africa initiative was made possible with funding provided by the Health Partnership Scheme (HPS), an initiative funded by the UK Department for International Development (UKAID) and managed by the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET).