Malaria Microscopy Training - Suriname

Two, six-week long, workshops that trained laboratory workers to acquire skill and competence in malaria microscopy.
With the low level of laboratory training in Suriname, and low levels of literacy, a unique methodology had to be taken in training. A consultant from WHO adapted the training manuals to a primarily visual and practical presentation to accommodate the moderately literate participants. 100% of the participants passed the training.
The first session trained 14 people in May-June, 2000, and the second session trained more people in 2001. This programme was established under WHO's Roll Back Malaria Programme, in partnership with the Medical Mission (MM), the organisation that provides health to the interior, to address the shared priority of early diagnosis and treatment of malaria. 80% of the participants were from MM, and 20% were from other coastal laboratories. Microscopy was targeted since it is thought to be the most significant portion of early diagnosis and treatment.

Health, Science.

Malaria is a large and increasing problem in Suriname's interior. For most laboratory workers, there have been virtually no opportunities for knowledge and skills development or for maintaining competency during the last years. Facing the current prevalence of malaria in Suriname, an active quality assurance and quality improvement programme was absolutely necessary. As a result of this project, the number of trained laboratory workers in the interior has increased from 6 to 17 (an increase of 183%) and more timely responses are being provided to local offices in the interior of Suriname.
Malaria is considered one of Suriname's worst health problems by the government and by PAHO, since after a period of control in the sixties and seventies, the incidence of malaria increased sharply in the late eighties. The areas where incidence has most increased are those areas where migration of people occurs more frequently, mostly as a result of the increased exploitation of timber and gold in the interior. In these areas, the annual parasite incidence ranges from a low of 20 to above 500 per 1000 persons. Approximately 13,000 positive cases were reported in 2000 from the interior. Approximately 60% of the cases are in children under the age of sixteen.