Malaria Microscopy Quality Assurance Manual Version 2

The first version of the WHO Malaria microscopy quality assurance manual (2009) was based on recommendations made at a series of informal consultations organized by WHO particularly a bi-regional meeting of the WHO regional offices for South-East Asia and the Western Pacific in April 2005 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia followed by informal consultations held in March 2006 and February 2008 in Geneva Switzerland. Subsequently extensive consultations among international malaria experts led to consensus and preparation of the manual. This second version of the Manual is based on the recommendations of experts made at a WHO technical consultation in March 2014 in Geneva Switzerland. The aim of the meeting was to review the experiences of national malaria control programmes (NMCPs) national reference laboratories (NRLs) and technical agencies in using the Manual and country experience in order to improve systems for managing the quality of malaria microscopy. This second version takes into account the many years of experience of several agencies in the various aspects of quality assurance (QA) described in the Manual. In particular the sections on assessment of competence in malaria microscopy are based on use of this method by the WHO regional offices for South-East Asia and the Western Pacific in collaboration with the WHO Coordinating Centre for Malaria in Australia and by the WHO Regional Office for Africa in collaboration with Amref Health Africa. The section on setting up and managing an international reference malaria slide bank is based on the work of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in collaboration with the WHO Coordinating Centre for Malaria Diagnosis in the Philippines. The section on proficiency testing for malaria microscopy is based on work in the WHO Regional Office for Africa in collaboration with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa and experience in regional initiatives by Amref Health Africa. The section on slide validation is based on work by Médecins sans Frontières and the section on outreach training and supportive supervision (OTSS) is based on work by the President's Malaria Initiative Malaria Care Project Medical Care Development International and Amref Health Africa. The Manual is designed primarily to assist managers of NMCPs and general laboratory services responsible for malaria control. The information is also applicable to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and funding agencies involved in improving quality management systems for malaria microscopy. The Manual is not designed for QA of microscopy in research situations such as in clinical trials of new drugs and vaccines or for monitoring parasite drug resistance. It forms part of a series of WHO documents designed to assist countries in improving the quality of malaria diagnosis in clinical settings including the revised training manuals on Basic malaria microscopy (2010) and the Bench aids for malaria microscopy (2010).

Early diagnosis and prompt, effective treatment is the basis for the management of malaria and key to reducing malaria mortality and morbidity. An acceptable microscopy service is one that is cost-effective, provides results that are consistently accurate and timely enough to have a direct impact on treatment. This requires a comprehensive and active quality assurance (QA) program. This manual outlines a hierarchical structure based on retraining, validation and the development of competency standards designed to ensure the quality of diagnosis necessary for a successful malaria program, while remaining within the financial and personnel resources likely to be available. The mode of implementation of the QA system outlined in this manual will vary according to the organization of the national laboratory services dealing with malaria, which may fall under the national malaria control program, or under a separate laboratory structure working closely with the malaria program.

A comprehensive resource describing innovative technologies and digital health tools that can revolutionize the delivery of health care in low- to middle-income countries, particularly in remote rural impoverished communities Revolutionizing Tropical Medicine offers an up-to-date guide for healthcare and other professionals working in low-resource countries where access to health care facilities for diagnosis and treatment is challenging. Rather than suggesting the expensive solution of building new bricks and mortar clinics and hospitals and increasing the number of doctors and nurses in these deprived areas, the authors propose a complete change of mindset. They outline a number of ideas for improving healthcare including rapid diagnostic testing for infectious and non-infectious diseases at a point-of-care facility, together with low cost portable imaging devices. In addition, the authors recommend a change in the way in which health care is delivered. This approach requires task-shifting within the healthcare provision system so that nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists and others are trained in the newly available technologies, thus enabling faster and more appropriate triage for people requiring medical treatment. This text: Describes the current burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases in low- to middle-income countries throughout the world Describes the major advances in healthcare outcomes in low-to middle-income countries derived from implementation of the United Nations/World Health Organisation’s 2000 Millennium Development Goals Provides a review of inexpensive rapid diagnostic point-of-care tests for infectious diseases in low-resource countries, particularly for people living in remote rural areas Provides a review of other rapid point-of-care services for assessing hematological function, biochemical function, renal function, hepatic function and status including hepatitis, acid-base balance, sickle cell disease, severe acute malnutrition and spirometry Explores the use of low-cost portable imaging devices for use in remote rural areas including a novel method of examining the optic fundus using a smartphone and the extensive value of portable ultrasound scanning when x-ray facilities are not available Describes the use of telemedicine in the clinical management of both children and adults in remote rural settings Looks to the future of clinical management in remote impoverished rural settings using nucleic acid identification of pathogens, the use of nanoparticles for water purification, the use of drones, the use of pulse oximetry and the use of near-infrared spectroscopy Finally, it assesses the potential for future healthcare improvement in impoverished areas and how the United Nations/World Health Organization 2015 Sustainable Development Goals are approaching this. Written for physicians, infectious disease specialists, pathologists, radiologists, nurses, pharmacists and other health care workers, as well as government healthcare managers, Revolutionizing Tropical Medicine is a new up-to-date essential and realistic guide to treating and diagnosing patients in low-resource tropical countries based on new technologies.

Bench Aids for Malaria Microscopy is a set of twelve plastic laminated A4-size plates produced as aids for the microscopic diagnosis of human malaria. They are intended for use as both a practical tool for health workers engaged in the routine diagnosis of malaria infections and a teaching aid for students and trainees. This new set has been compiled on the basis of feedback received from a wide range of professionals and experts who had been using the second edition of the Bench Aids for Diagnosing Malaria Infections (WHO, 2000). The bench aids present photomicrographs that show the various species and morphological forms of human malaria in thick and thin blood films. Descriptions of P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae are provided together with detailed instructions on the preparation and use of buffer and staining solutions. The photomicrographs, all at x1000 magnification and stained with Romanowsky stains, show many of the possible variations of malaria parasites. Common faults in making blood films are also illustrated and explained, as well as advice for safe handling blood specimens are also included, to minimize exposure to hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. New sections have been added on anticoagulants and diagnosis of mixed infections, and recognition of other common parasites in peripheral blood smears. The bench aids are produced in a weatherproof plastic-sealed format that is robust and easy to use in the field and at the laboratory bench.

This volume presents the Budget Message of the President, information on the President's budget and management priorities, and budget overviews organized by agency. The report also contains detailed information on the various appropriations and funds, and highlights significant presentations of data. Statistics are provided for the following: budget receipts; outlays; and surpluses or deficits over an extended time period.

Includes questionnaire for evaluation of training in volume 2.

This book features high-quality research papers presented at the 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Expert Systems (ICSES 2022), held in Nepal during September 9–10, 2022. The book focuses on the research information related to artificial intelligence, sustainability and expert systems applied in almost all the areas of industries, government sectors and educational institutions worldwide. The main thrust of the book is to publish the conference papers that deal with the design, implementation, development, testing and management of intelligent and sustainable expert systems and also to provide both theoretical and practical guidelines for the deployment of these systems.