Jimma University Mycobacteriology Research Center has organized a two day workshop on eSpecimen referral linkage in collaboration with Challenge TB Ethiopia and Nekemte Regional Laboratory for lab personnel from MDR-TB Treatment Initiating Centers in South West Ethiopia on January 11-12, 2017 at Honey Land Hotel. Dr. Gemeda Abebe, Director of Institute of Biotechnology, Jimma University made opening speech and indicated the objective of the training. Accordingly, he indicated that Jimma University is committed to provide community services through its different facilities one of which is the Mycobacteriology laboratory at Mycobacteriology Research Center. He indicated that in spite of the lab’s commitment to provide referral service for diagnosis of MDR-TB and treatment follow-up, referral linkage of the samples from referring facilities and result communication were challenging. To mitigate these gaps the implementation of in-house developed software by Challenge TB-Ethiopia that is web based is of paramount importance.
Mr Afework Tamiru from Nekemte Regional lab made presentation on general quality management and stressed the need for speedy sample referral and result communication. He indicated that to improve patient management the use of software will reduce the problems that has been facing previously.
Ms. Bihil Sherefedin, coordinator of specimen referral linkage at Challegene TB-Ethiopia has made presentation on Cold chain Vehicle Specimen Referral implementation approach to facilitate the sample referral linkage. She indicated that improvements have been made since the cold chain vehicle approach is implemented specifically in this region. Mr Abebe, IT specialist at challenge TB-Ethiopia has provided the hands-on training for the participants from Jimma University Mycobacteriology Research Center, Shenen Gibe hospital, Mettu Karl hospital, Nekemte hospital, Nekemte Regional lab, Ghimbi hospital, Nejo hospital and Dambi Dollo Hospital.
At the end of the training the trainees from different facilities have indicated that they believe that the implementation of the software will facilitate sample referral, tracking and result communication between their health facilities and the referral facility which in turn will improve quality of service. They also suggested for further trainings to be organized with the aim of improving the service.