The laboratory organised several stakeholders meetings involving Hospital Management Team (HMT) and Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC) as the implementing partner (IP). CSSC developed an enthusiastic team committed for accreditation process. The use of process indicators was the set action plan for commitments review. Then the deadlines follow up plan to mitigate challenges observed into SLIPTA process using the twelve elements for accreditation. These elements needed several inputs including procurement of most expensive items, development of several documents in the laboratory, behavioural change in the laboratory and the management, development and follow up of developed quality management system (QMS). Procurement of refrigerators, computers, printers, Haematology, Biochemistry machines, Fasc Caliber and reagents added the enthusiasm. After calibrating the equipment’s, SOPs were set into practice and individual members were given responsibilities to follow up the agreed action items against deadline. The team were committed and involved in the QMS especially SLIPTA process which ended up in Local Accreditation assessment followed by ASLIM international accreditation assessment in July 2014. The laboratory jumped from 0 credits of the year 2012 and 2013 to 2 star credits just after the application of the QI Principles.

1. ACCREDITATION OF
SEKOU TOURE REGIONAL HOSPITAL
LABORATORY
4th National Quality Improvement Forum, NQIF
BOT Conference Centre
30th October, 2014
Fidelis Marcel1, Juma J. Shigella1, Marwa Kitangita2 , Pastory Sekule2,
William Bendela2, Emmanuel Lesilwa2 , Bernard Mbwele2
1. Sekou Toure Regional Hospital
2. Christian Social Services Commission, CSSC

2. Outline
2
•Background
•Accreditation processes (Methods)
•Outcomes (Results)
•Challenges
•Conclusion
•Way forward

3. Background
3
Sekou toure Regional Hospital (SRH)
Regional Hospital of Mwanza region
Inaugurated by His excellence the late president
of Guinea Bissau Sekou Toure as a Health
Centre in 1968, and in 1994 it become to function
as a regional Hosp.
The Hospital capacity is 400 beds and the lab
services about 36,000 clients per year

4. Background
4
 Laboratory services is an important
components in the management of
infectious diseases e.g. TB, HIV/AIDS
and Malaria
 WHO-AFRO has established the
Stepwise Laboratory Quality
Improvement Process Towards
Accreditation (SLIPTA) to strengthen
laboratory systems of its Member States
SRHL-MWZ enrolled into SLIPTA,
Cohort 2 in 2012/2013

5. Accreditation processes
5
Application for Cohort 2 SLIPTA process in
august 2012
Enrolment into Cohort 2 by October 2012
Mentorship from the ministry of Health
Staff training on quality improvement project
and biosafety and biosecurity organized by
the MOSW
The laboratory organizes stakeholders
meeting including Lab staffs, HMT, RHMT and
CSSC (IP) to
Build an enthusiastic team
Develop action items relaying on the
WHO/SLPTA twelve elements
Follow up of action items developed Vs.

6. Accreditation processes…
6
Working on the 12 elements for accreditation
needed SRH to focus on 8 Main are ;
 Operating Manual and SOP
 Audit Requirements
 Processing Quality Assurance and Calibration
of instruments by TBS
 Organisation of Team, Development and follow
up of developed quality management system
(QMS)
 Safety
 Purchase of Tools and equipment
 Personnel
Management Review
The lab was finally assessed locally and
internationally recognised body/organ

7. Outcome
7
Baseline assessment in May 2012 the
lab scored 87 points (0 stars level)
The second assessment performed in
July 2013 locally it scored 132 points (0
star level)
In 2014 the laboratory continues
mitigating observed challenges,
The assessment conducted in march
2014 locally the results was 155 points
(1star level)
In July 2014 the lab was assessed by the
ASLM using WHO checklist where it
gained 178points (2 stars level)

8. Challenges
8
Inadequate supplies e.g. cartridge,
printing papers
Shortage of reagents.
Irregular service of machine by
engineer.
Lack of back up machine.

9. Recommendation
9
Quality improvement must involve all
stakeholders involved in the lab services
If Health Workers are well informed on
quality improvement they act accordingly
Behavioural changes in all stakeholders
involved is a key to quality improvement
(Lab staff, management and IPs)
Close collaboration is needed between
the health facilities and Implementing
partners in order to succeed

10. Conclusion
10
 Giving laboratories quality
standards as process indicators
helps in improving the quality
assurance that might be beneficial
in accreditation process.