Twenty microscopists complete training

TWENTY malaria microscopists have completed a training to be certified trainers.
The trainer of trainers’ course, the first of its kind, was delivered by a World Health Organisation consultant in conjunction with the Central Public Health Laboratory from Aug 19-23.
Supported by the Australia-China-PNG Trilateral Malaria Project, the training would strengthen malaria detection and diagnosis in PNG.
Representatives from the Health Department, Chinese Embassy and the Australian High Commission presented certificates to nine high-performing microscopists and their supervisors at the graduation ceremony on Aug 23.
Australian High Commission first secretary of health security Emeline Cammack said they were at the forefront of malaria control and elimination in PNG.
She said sharing their skills would help PNG move closer to eliminating malaria by 2030. Counsellor Liu Linlin from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China confirmed his country’s ongoing commitment to sharing malaria expertise with PNG and the region.
He said capacity building was important for all laboratories to make sure there was continued sustainability of malaria microscopy for accurate detection and diagnosis. He thanked partners for their support.