DUFUTH Undergoes Malaria Laboratory Quality Assessment as AE-FUTHA Team Commends Diagnostic Standards

A team from Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA), Abakaliki, has conducted an external quality assessment of malaria diagnosis at David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH) as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen laboratory standards and malaria control.

The delegation, led by the Director of Medical Laboratory Services, Dr. Dominic Nwankpa, was received by the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Darlington-Peter Ugoji, who granted the team access to the hospital's laboratory facilities and assured them of the institution's full cooperation throughout the assessment.

Speaking during the visit, Dr. Nwankpa explained that the exercise was aimed at evaluating the quality of malaria diagnosis carried out in DUFUTH's laboratory and ensuring that testing procedures comply with World Health Organization (WHO) standard protocols.

He noted that the assessment involved the use of proficiency slides to evaluate the competence of laboratory personnel in reading malaria slides and accurately diagnosing malaria cases.

According to him, the assessment was conducted on behalf of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP/SMEP) in Ebonyi State as part of its quarterly quality assurance exercise.

He added that the findings from the assessment would be submitted to the National Malaria Elimination Programme and the World Health Organization to support ongoing malaria control initiatives and improve laboratory quality standards.

Following a tour of the laboratory and observation of testing procedures, Dr. Nwankpa expressed satisfaction with the quality of malaria diagnosis and the methods employed by the laboratory staff.

He commended the DUFUTH laboratory team for maintaining high diagnostic standards, noting that the assessment revealed little or no lapses in the hospital's malaria diagnostic processes.

Dr. Nwankpa also encouraged members of the public to consistently sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets as an effective measure for preventing malaria.

He expressed confidence that DUFUTH would continue to uphold high standards in malaria diagnosis and the delivery of quality laboratory services.