Ciheb Malawi Donates Equipment to Districts

University of Maryland Baltimore's (UMB) Ciheb Malawi recently donated water tanks, solar batteries, and computers to districts in Malawi for lab improvement. Laboratories are crucial to timely and quality health services not only for those living with HIV but also prevention of HIV infection. It is essential to ensure that laboratories and laboratory staff are well-equipped and well-trained to deliver services. This is the mandate of UMB Ciheb Malawi's project called Accelerating Malawi's PEPFAR Laboratory Logistics and Infrastructure for Quality (AMPLIFY).

The AMPLIFY project supports the Ministry of Health in improving Malawi's efficiency, capacity, and quality of laboratory services. Specific areas of focus include:

• Expanding a cost-effective national sample transport system.
• Increasing access to quality HIV diagnostics.
• Supporting laboratories to achieve accreditation.
• Building the capacity of strategic laboratory information.

For example, Karonga lab, situated in northern Malawi, is being set up to soon begin HIV viral load testing. Karonga district has a general water efficiency problem that affects the lab's operations. The donated water tank will help with consistent water provision and expedite the commissioning of this lab to start testing.

Parts of Malawi experience persistent power blackouts affecting lab operations. In Mzimba South's lab, power backup support, through donated solar batteries, ensure that the lab always remains operational. This will reduce the turnaround time, and reagent wasted when testing is aborted due to power loss.

Computers were also donated to all districts and molecular labs. These computers support data entry of samples into the Laboratory Information Management System, strengthening the capacity of the labs' ability to manage the specimens received.

Through the strengthening of lab functionality and partnerships with stakeholders in Malawi, UMB Ciheb Malawi continues to work to improve testing and treatment and the quality of life for Malawians to meet the UNAIDS' goal of eradicating HIV by 2030.