234574 Ethiopian National Laboratory Logistics System: Overcoming Despair through a Systematic Response

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Alemayehu Nigatu, Msc , Laboratory unit, Supply Chain managemnt system (Ethiopia), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reliable laboratory diagnostic services are critical to the success of comprehensive health programs. A full array of clinical chemistry, hematology tests, and CD4 must be available to diagnose, treat and monitor patients in HIV/AIDS programs. The Ethiopian laboratory logistics system was unorganized and hampered by several systems challenges causing constant stockouts of critical items that impeded quality care for patients.

More than 150,000 people are on treatment for HIV/AIDS. Yet, the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI) chose to tackle head-on the laboratory commodities supply chain challenges. • Close collaboration with partners, regional awareness workshops for public health sector leaders, to generate buy-in and support of the initiative • Regular mentoring of laboratory staff to ensure data submission quality • Technical assistance to develop and implement standardized reporting formats to capture data about inventory and orders from health facilities, including a standard operating procedure manual to simplify and standardize the performance of the Laboratory Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) Prior to system implementation stockouts were frequent and hospitals waited 2-3 months or longer for critical commodities like CD4 reagents. The logistics system is now positively impacting more than 155,000 patients. The laboratory commodities distribution system is now ready for integration with other HIV/AIDS commodities. Supported by policy level efforts to address supply chain challenges as well as coordinated partner activities, strong laboratory logistics systems and supply chain solutions can be implemented in resource poor settings and used as a model for all health commodities.

Learning Areas:
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
At the end of my presentation, participants will be able to understand how a strong and standardized Lab logistics system helps HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Iam MSc holder , and MPH final year on thesis work
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.