Get Funding to Boost Malawi's HIV Lab Services!

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in Malawi is to strengthen the laboratory systems by training human resources, improving laboratory infrastructure, building capacity in data management and use, and improving quality management systems. The objectives are to provide pre-service and in-service training for various cadre or laboratory staff, and to equip and perform alterations and refurbishments to at least 10 laboratories to perform essential microbiology, mycobacteriology, parasitology, hematology and chemistry. The FOA will also develop laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and improve the use of generated data in decision making, increase quality by supporting laboratories to develop and adhere to quality management systems (QMS), and strengthen quality control and quality assurance. The activities of the program will include health systems strengthening by increasing human resources, implementing necessary alterations and refurbishment to physical infrastructure, improving the specimen referral system, and improving data generation and handling capabilities through an electronic information system.

The program will support the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Malawi to update the National Laboratory Policy document and the national laboratory strategic plan (NLSP) as well as other guidelines that standardize the delivery of laboratory services in Malawi. The program will support the National HIV response in prevention, diagnosis, eligibility determination, and monitoring of treatment effectiveness. Activities will therefore improve scaling up of early infant diagnosis (EID), CD4 monitoring, viral load monitoring, hematology, and chemistry, as well as improving diagnosis of opportunistic infections (OIs).