Integrated Capacity Development Programme for Laboratory Specialists
Overall objectives of the laboratory programme
In order to strengthen national diagnostic and surveillance capacity at all levels, the Integrated Capacity Development Programme for Laboratory Specialists aims to:
- improve diagnostic capacity for infectious diseases
- encourage appropriate public health practices
- extend the network of national and international laboratories to ensure timely exchange of information;
- ensure the availability of rapid, effective and secure means of transportation for diagnostic materials and laboratory samples
- develop appropriate principles and practices for quality control.
Epidemiological training programmes and public health laboratory practice
There is a significant gap between national programmes for epidemiology and those for public health laboratory diagnosis. This gap must be reduced in order to foster effective integrated surveillance and response programmes. The Integrated Capacity Development programme for Laboratory Specialists seeks to use every opportunity to train participants in the interdependence and complementarity of these disciplines.
Getting connected
Modern technology has brought a revolution in networking and information sharing. Special instruction in the application of these tools is given so that when specialists return to their home countries, personal contacts built through shared learning can be transformed into permanent networks to track down epidemics. These networks are supported by WHO through the provision to each participant of a lap-top computer and on internet connection in their home laboratory.
Although this programme is limited in time, it in fact forms the basis of a long-term relationship: the surveillance network that will be in place after two years, created from core groups
Outline of the programme
During the initial session in Lyon, participants review essential laboratory diagnostic practices and techniques, biosafety, data collection and management, biostatistics, basic disease epidemiology, and practices in personnel management and administration. The curriculum includes true case studies integrating computer epidemiology and laboratory sessions.
Participants are assigned a computer to be taken to their home laboratories and receive in-depth training on its use as well as on techniques for using the Internet and establishing communications networks.
After the initial intensive 8-week session in Lyon, participants return to their home country and are followed up during the subsequent 2 years. During this time they have 2 shorter visits to Lyon and they are evaluated in their ability to utilize the programme training to enhance their national public health diagnostic capacity to detect and respond to infectious disease threats.
During the 2-year programme, participants are expected to maintain their positions and responsibilities for the supervision and management of the activities of their national laboratory.
Participants are required to prepare a plan of action addressing identified needs, and to explore the way these needs can be addressed with national resources and those provided through WHO, donors or technical partners. Participants perform an in-depth analysis of the technical, administrative and equipment needs of their national laboratory and look for ways in which to integrate laboratory and epidemiological activities.
The mentoring activities are conducted in English and French according to the target region of a course. Activities in other languages are panned.
Timeline of activities of the 2-year course:
Selection criteria:
Candidates should fulfill the following requirements:
- have an excellent knowledge of the language in which the course is being given
- possess a university degree in microbiology or another biological science
- be actively engaged in working for a national referral laboratory of the Ministry of Health
- be in a senior technical or management position in a laboratory.
Candidates are selected on the basis of country visits conducted by WHO officers, with the endorsement of the ministry of health. Only candidates nominated by their governments and who can attend the entire course will be considered.
An assessment of candidates is conducted after an initial 3-week period to determine their suitability to follow through the whole course.
Candidates selected for the programme receive air tickets (or other) for their travel to France and an allowance for the duration of the course, which is sufficient to cover their board and lodgings.
It is the responsibility of each candidate to apply for the necessary visas. WHO provides evidence of a candidate’s participation in the course in support of the visa application.
Participants
April 2001: The first group consisted of 7 African countries that include the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros, the Republic of Cape Verde, the Republic of Chad, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of the Congo.
January 2002: The second group of participants were selected from Middle Eastern and Northern African countries (WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region) and included the Hasemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Lebanese Republic, the Republic of Iraq, the Republic of Sudan, the Republic of Yemen, and the Syrian Arab Republic.
October 2002: The third cohort of participants was from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union and included Georgia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Turkey, Romania, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these maps do not imply the expression of an opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.