The hospital partnership between the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Human Parasitology (ITM) at the Universitätsklinikum Tübingen (UKT) and the Centre Hospitalier Regional (CHR) in Sokodé, Togo aim to improve laboratory safety and infection prevention procedures during HIV-viral load testing among AIDS patients.
Problem: The laboratories and infrastructure of the regional hospital in Sokodé do not correspond with the demands for laboratory safety regarding the management of viable pathogens. Knowledge of zoonotic, viral, and neglected infectious diseases is also insufficient. Thus, improved and updated technical competencies are necessary.
Main Activities: Knowledge of managing viable pathogens is gained through repeated training opportunities and practical instruction. Additionally, renovations are performed to comply with the demand for infection prevention.
Short-Term Effects: The HIV-laboratory and the reference laboratory at CHR provide training opportunities specific to the prevention of infections and laboratory safety. These trainings can also be delivered to laboratories in remote areas and multiplicator teams.
Long-Term Effects: The improved technical standards of the HIV-laboratory in CHR Sokodé will allow for better, more definitive, and faster treatment for patients.