In the continuous fight versus the growing risk of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) pathogens, Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, with assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO), has actually started a series of important training efforts. These efforts intended to gear up health care experts particularly laboratory officers with the essential abilities to recognize bacterial representatives and carry out antibiotic vulnerability tests as part of activities to fight the risk of AMR efficiently.
At the leading edge of these efforts are 2 thorough training programs that were held at the Wusum Hotel in Makeni. The very first program, covering 2 days from the 15th -16th February 2024, supplied a refresher training and orientation sessions for twenty-nine (29) phlebotomists. The training concentrated on improving their competence in aseptic collection of blood sample, product packaging, and effective shipping to microbiology labs for additional analytical procedures.
In the 2nd effort, a four-day training session from the 18th -22nd February 2024, united twenty-seven (27) lab technologists from medical facilities throughout numerous districts, consisting of Kailahun, Kenema, Kambia, Western Area Urban, Western Area Rural, and Tonkolili. The main goal was to empower these specialists with important abilities in Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS), important for making sure the precision and dependability of lab tests, especially in recognizing bacterial pathogens and performing antibiotic vulnerability screening.
AMR has actually been recognized as a substantial public health obstacle by the WHO, with bacterial representatives quickly establishing resistance to prescription antibiotics. To resolve this concern, the WHO has actually developed the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) to gather information on AMR from member nations.
In 2019, it was approximated that there were 9,700 AMR-related deaths in Sierra Leone. Out of 19 nations in the African area, Sierra Leone had the 5th greatest age-standardized AMR-related death. The lack of bacteriology capabilities, antimicrobial stewardship programs, and the high use of prescription antibiotics in public healthcare facilities will increase the problem of AMR in the nation.
In line with WHO suggestions, Sierra Leone is actively working to develop nationwide collaborating centers for AMR security and improve lab capabilities for screening and monitoring. While AMR security methods have actually been established, there is a pushing requirement to reinforce nationwide lab abilities for bacterial recognition and antibiotic vulnerability screening.
Thanks to financial backing from the Fleming Fund, WHO Sierra Leone has actually helped with the procurement lab devices and reagents, restoration of 3 lab websites, and supplied capability structure for lab personnel. The training on LQMS, collectively helped with by MOH authorities and WHO technical officers covered 12 vital quality components laid out in the WHO Laboratory Quality Management System curriculum.
Upon conclusion of these activities, Sierra Leone will boast 3 bacteriology labs efficient in screening and validating illness such as intense watery diarrhea, bacterial meningitis, and other bacterial infections. These labs will likewise carry out antibiotic vulnerability screening that will offer clinicians with evidence-based information for antibiotic prescription and create AMR information that will be sent to GLASS. Sierra Leone’s contributions to worldwide monitoring programs like GLASS will allow policymakers to make educated choices and upgrade standards for enhancing antibiotic treatments frequently. By reinforcing lab capabilities and boosting AMR security, Sierra Leone is taking proactive actions towards protecting public health and combating the international hazard of antimicrobial resistance.