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Sample Transport: Reducing delays to accessing laboratory-based testing in

Sample Transport: Reducing delays to accessing laboratory-based testing in Chadiza district, Eastern Province, Zambia. C. Chibiliti , D. O’Farrell, J. Brown, A. Jenkinson , K. Nichols Riders for Health. What is Riders for Health?.

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Sample Transport: Reducing delays to accessing laboratory-based testing in

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  1. Sample Transport: Reducing delays to accessing laboratory-based testing in Chadiza district, Eastern Province, Zambia C. Chibiliti, D. O’Farrell, J. Brown, A. Jenkinson, K. Nichols Riders for Health

  2. What is Riders for Health? Riders is a not-for-profit social enterprise that manages transport operating in African health systems. • Focused on providing reliable, scalable, cost-efficient and appropriate transport solutions • Emphasis on rural access and experts in difficult terrain • Partner with DHOs in Eastern and Southern Provinces, Zambia • Manage transport for any partner involved in health care delivery

  3. Background November 2009: Riders partnered with Chadiza District Health Office (DHO) in Eastern Province, Zambia, on a Sample Transport (ST) programme. • Riders trained and employed five ST couriers mobilised on motorcycles to transport samples/results between primary health facilities and district labs on a weekly basis • Riders manages the motorcycles under a preventive maintenance system • Samples included blood for CD4, chem/ haematology testing; sputum for TB diagnosis; and dried blood spot (DBS) for early infant diagnosis (EID), etc.

  4. Research objective and methods • To review ST effectiveness by examining testing volumes and turnaround times (TATs) of sample collection to return of result across health facilities in Chadiza district • Conducted analysis using baseline and follow-up structured interviews with staff at 15 health centres and weekly ST courier log sheets

  5. Results • Avg. TAT decreased: 11 to 8 days before/after ST. • Each ST courier transported 442.8 samples/month in 2010, 355.6 in 2011, and 423.6 in Jan-May 2012 • Sample volumes at Chadiza district lab increased by several times after ST. After ST Before ST

  6. Conclusions • Decreased TAT and increased sample volumes potentially due to ST meant that additional women and children in Chadiza accessed lab-based testing, possibly contributing to early initiation of and/or adherence to treatment. • Couriers also transport sample-collection consumables, DBS kits • Challenge: laboratory and health centre capacity to manage high testing volumes. • Preventive maintenance and fleet management critical to ST reliability and trust of stakeholders. • October 2011: ST began in Nyimba; Riders hopes to expand ST to all EP and the rest of Zambia but requires funding and support from partners.

  7. Thank you • To our MoH partners, especially the Chadiza DHO and Eastern PHO, who have strongly supported this programme and enabled its success • To CIDRZ and other partners • To our team in Chipata for their dedication For more information, please contact Ms. Constance Chibiliti at cchibiliti@riders.org or visit: www.riders.org

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