Côte d’Ivoire

Since 2009, the University of Washington’s I-TECH has worked with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Côte d’Ivoire (CI) Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene (MSHP) to strengthen laboratory information systems at the national and regional level. A project funded by the CDC from 2016-2021 is enabling I-TECH to expand its support to the MSHP to strengthen the laboratory system as a whole.

I-TECH support to CI aims to develop and implement targeted interventions designed to: strengthen national laboratory policies and procedures; improve training programs for laboratory staff; strengthen biosafety and biosecurity practices; support laboratories seeking Quality Management System (QMS) and HIV testing certification; support expanded use of laboratory information systems and their data for decision making; and support blood safety interventions and accreditation of national blood transfusion service points.

With I-TECH support to CI, adoption of an open-source electronic laboratory information system (eLIS) has already resulted in improved efficiency and accuracy of laboratory data collection and reporting. Over 50 national, regional, and general hospital laboratories have implemented eLIS systems.

Program Highlights

Certificate Program in Laboratory Leadership and Management
The I-TECH Certificate Program in Laboratory Leadership and Management (CPLLM) is a nine-month course that trains laboratory staff in supervisory positions leadership and management skills to make substantive and impactful improvements in laboratory testing quality and operations. The program was developed in 2013 and first piloted in 2014 ...
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Evaluating Laboratory Systems to Move toward Accreditation in Côte d’Ivoire
In collaboration with the MSHP, the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (LNSP), and a local accreditation organization, the Regional Center for Health Evaluation and Accreditation (CRESAC), I-TECH is conducting a baseline assessment of laboratory services at 50 laboratories in 2017 ...
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Strengthening Laboratory Policy in Côte d’Ivoire
In 2017, Côte d’Ivoire’s National Public Health Reference Laboratory (LNSP) and I-TECH convened a series of strategic planning meetings with the objective of reviewing and updating the vision, mission, and objectives of the previous National Laboratory Strategic Plan. These meetings and collaboration with various partners resulted in a revised plan, ...
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Transitioning OpenELIS Training and Implementation to Local Professionals in Côte d’Ivoire
For nearly a decade I-TECH has worked in Côte d’Ivoire in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop and implement an electronic laboratory information system in key laboratories. In order to respond to evolving data needs and ensure timely access to quality laboratory data, an ...
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