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10-Day Malaria Microscopy Training Conducted for Medical Laboratory Scientists
Participants display their certificates at the end of the training
As part of efforts to equip medical laboratory scientists with the requisite skills necessary to improve the accurate diagnosis of malaria, the Walter Reed Program-Nigeria (WRP-N) with funding from the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) has again concluded an intensive malaria microscopy training.
The capacity-building activity conducted in collaboration with the Integrated Health Program (IHP), Medical Laboratory Science Council and the Nigerian Ministry of Defence, took place in Abuja. It had 20 medical laboratory scientists drawn from Sokoto, Bauchi, and Kebbi states as participants. It featured elaborate classroom sessions, group discussions, presentations as well as practical demonstrations, which covered parasite detection, speciation, parasite quantification and more.
The participants commended WRP-N and its other partners for organizing what they described as a well-structured training program with highly experienced facilitators, quality lecture deliveries, conducive learning atmosphere and hospitality at its best. They also promised to step-down knowledge gained and transfer same to their colleagues so as to deliver accurate diagnosis.
Participants and facilitators pose for a photograph
Speaking at the end of the training, one of the participants, Faiz Zainab said, “Before now, I only just see parasites in textbooks. This training has given me an opportunity to see different parasites morphology microscopically. Now I can clearly differentiate between artifacts and parasites.”
One of the participants, Faiz Zainab during a session
Another participant, Ukashat Bello Bunza said, “This malaria microscopy training exceeded my expectations. I learnt so much about detection, speciation and counting in 10 days. Now that I have this level of knowledge about malaria diagnosis, I will try to do a step-down training for my colleagues back at the health facility, I’ll teach them the proper ways of stain preparation, smear making and reading of slides so that we will have accurate results that we will be confident in.”
The capacity-building activity recorded a high pass rate as 5 participants attained level-1, 10 at level-2 and 3 others scored level-3 in their competency assessments.
The training, which commenced on Monday, July 18, 2022 was concluded on Friday, July 29, 2022 with certificates presented to participants.
Participants display their certificates at the end of the training