Innovative strategies for a successful SLMTA country programme: The Rwanda story
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Innovative strategies for a successful SLMTA country programme: The Rwanda story | |
| Creator | Nzabahimana, Innocent Sebasirimu, Sabin Gatabazi, John B. Ruzindana, Emmanuel Kayobotsi, Claver Linde, Mary K. Mazarati, Jean B. Ntagwabira, Edouard Serumondo, Janvier Dahourou, Georges A. Gatei, Wangeci Muvunyi, Claude M. | |
| Description | Background: In 2009, to improve the performance of laboratories and strengthen healthcare systems, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) and partners launched two initiatives: a laboratory quality improvement programme called Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA), and what is now called the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA).Objectives: This study describes the achievements of Rwandan laboratories four years after the introduction of SLMTA in the country, using the SLIPTA scoring system to measure laboratory progress.Methods: Three cohorts of five laboratories each were enrolled in the SLMTA programme in 2010, 2011 and 2013. The cohorts used SLMTA workshops, improvement projects, mentorship and quarterly performance-based financing incentives to accelerate laboratory quality improvement. Baseline, exit and follow-up audits were conducted over a two-year period from the time of enrolment. Audit scores were used to categorise laboratory quality on a scale of zero ( 55%) to five (95% – 100%) stars.Results: At baseline, 14 of the 15 laboratories received zero stars with the remaining laboratory receiving a two-star rating. At exit, five laboratories received one star, six received two stars and four received three stars. At the follow-up audit conducted in the first two cohorts approximately one year after exit, one laboratory scored two stars, five laboratories earned three stars and four laboratories, including the National Reference Laboratory, achieved four stars.Conclusion: Rwandan laboratories enrolled in SLMTA showed improvement in quality management systems. Sustaining the gains and further expansion of the SLMTA programme to meet country targets will require continued programme strengthening. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2014-11-03 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/ajlm.v3i2.217 | |
| Source | African Journal of Laboratory Medicine; Vol 3, No 2 (2014); 6 pages 2225-2010 2225-2002 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/217/314
https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/217/247
https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/217/248
https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/217/214
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