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Congratulations are in order for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) on two fronts. First, its Global Outreach initiative-a commitment that started in August 2005 to enhance the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of HIV/AIDS in resource-limited countries-remains dedicated to laboratory training, technical assistance and education in African and Caribbean nations. Efforts focus on basic lab operations, CD4 testing, clinical chemistry, hematology, laboratory management and phlebotomy.
Second, the organization has been awarded $5.5 million from the CDC to continue its collaborative work with the agency in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) during 2009-10. This is an increase of more than $1 million over last year and is the highest amount received by the ASCP Department of Global Outreach, according to an ASCP press release.
In its initial stages, PEPFAR was a $15 billion AIDS relief commitment; in 2008, Congress reauthorized PEPFAR for an additional five years, totaling a $48 billion pledge.
As part of this Global Outreach initiative, ASCP volunteers provide diagnostic and quality assurance laboratory training in the review and revision of clinical laboratory curricula. The CDC funding will be dedicated toward pre-service training -working with universities and teachers to build accreditation programming. Mentorship programs and workshops in clinical chemistry, hematology, phlebotomy and basic laboratory operations also will continue.
"We are a large, diverse organization that is using the incredible knowledge, experience and dedication of our volunteers and staff to respond to the global health needs using those skills that we use daily to serve our clients and patients," said ASCP Past President Lee H. Hilborne, MD, in the ASCP press release. "There is still much work to do to improve patient services in resource-limited nations, but together ASCP Institute for Global Outreach and the CDC have made considerable progress. Over the next year we will continue to fight HIV/AIDS and work to slow its devastating effects."
For more information on ASCP Global Outreach, visit http://www.ascp.org/outreach
Lynn Nace
Editor
lnace@advanceweb.com
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