The Ministry of Health has concluded a five-day malaria diagnostic refresher training for 20 medical laboratory professionals from Freetown and the provinces, aimed at improving the accuracy and quality of malaria diagnosis across Sierra Leone.
The training was organized through the Directorate of Laboratory, Diagnostic and Blood Services in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programme, with support from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and AMREF. It was held at the Parasitology Reference Laboratory in Lakka and commenced on 12 October.
The programme focused on strengthening participants’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills in malaria diagnosis, with particular emphasis on quality-assured microscopy, parasite identification and the proper use of diagnostic procedures.
Participants received training in microscope use and maintenance, malaria parasite morphology and species identification, blood specimen collection, preparation of thick and thin blood films, Giemsa staining and parasite counting. The sessions also covered malaria rapid diagnostic tests, laboratory safety, standard operating procedures and quality assurance.
The training included practical laboratory exercises, slide reviews, competency assessments and work-plan development. Pre-training and post-training assessments were also conducted to measure participants’ progress, identify gaps in their knowledge and guide the application of the skills acquired in their respective laboratories.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Director of Laboratory, Diagnostic and Blood Services, Dr Donald Grant, stressed that accurate malaria diagnosis is essential for effective patient management, appropriate treatment decisions and reliable disease surveillance. He commended the participants and acknowledged the contributions of the National Malaria Control Programme, CRS, AMREF, facilitators and resource persons.
Programme Manager for Clinical Services, Dr. Samuel William, encouraged participants to apply the knowledge and practical skills gained during the training, maintain professional diagnostic standards and share their learning with colleagues to improve laboratory services nationwide.
The competency assessment results showed that participants demonstrated strengths in malaria parasite detection and counting, while parasite speciation remained an area requiring further improvement. The findings will help inform targeted follow-up training and continued professional development for laboratory personnel.
The Ministry of Health and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening laboratory capacity and improving the reliability of malaria diagnosis as part of Sierra Leone’s broader efforts to control and eliminate malaria.
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