AUL Purpose• The AUL is organized for support and

cooperative purposes by its members. These purposes are:– To strengthen lab network in the USAPI

countries through information sharing and open communication,

– To promote excellence in laboratory services through collaboration and implementation of lab quality management system criteria,

– To serve as a resource and focal group for the USAPI laboratories, and

– To impact future health planning and organization in the region through lab-based surveillance and activities.

Laboratorians:

Often called the “un-sung Heroes”Or Back Burners

We're not often acknowledged enough compared to other

significant health professionals

NCD: A Laboratory PerspectiveLaboratories help to a far extent in raising

the awareness towards communicable and non-communicable diseases in view of the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases in terms of morbidity, mortality and socioeconomic losses.

Disease surveillance is a critical component of health systems, providing essential information for optimal health care delivery, cost effective strategies.

Surveillance and Response: Laboratory SupportAccording to a WHO Surveillance and Response

Strategy, (3) three important goals lead to successful diseases surveillance and response:

1) health systems & capacities need strengthening to carry out public health surveillance and responses

2) integrate surveillance and laboratory support and,– 3) translate surveillance and laboratory data into

specific and timely public health actions.

– http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/httprograms/idsr.htm

Diagnostic Support: A critical needDiagnostic support is very critical at the

surveillance level.Diagnostic facilities – critical roles in surveillance

and responseLaboratories – essential to disease surveillanceHospital laboratories should be well equipped and

provided with diagnostic support.Government medical laboratories in the district

levels needs to be improved to support surveillance. LIMS (Laboratory Informations Management

Systems) – need to integrate and centralize data systems to enhance laboratory-based surveillance.

Does AUL membership see NCD as a high priority?Yes

NCD continue to give way to the compulsory escalating of laboratory analysis.

Identify ways to improve or maintain our roles and function as laboratorians.

Our function is a vital part to quality healthcare delivery system.

NCD has been declared an emergency not only in the region but across the globe so it is a concern and priority throughout the health care arena, laboratories included.

Questions AUL should consider and seek answers to:

•Will resources continue to be made available for laboratories across the Pacific?

•Will our facilities and services receive the support in upgrading as the predictable advancement of NCDs become inevitable?

Is there need for more discussion, deliberation, and orientation?Yes,

Combined and ongoing sharing of ideas, concerns, needs, experiences, resources and strategies from planning to implementation will strengthen our roles and pave ways to move forward.

Labs (AUL) is the backbone in the detection of diseases (screening and confirmatory of NCDs)

Improved management of NCDs

How do NCDs factor into AUL strategic direction or plan?Outcome of the AUL/PIHOA 3rd LabNet

Meeting 2011AUL adopted the WHO regional lab standardsLQMS – to strengthen our compliance to the

standardsAcquire baseline qualifications for all

laboratorians in the USAPIEstablish NCD lab-based surveillance to lay

the ground works, planning, implementation, and monitoring effectiveness of our efforts.

What needs to happen to ensure AUL and its members are prepared to play the role they’ve identified for themselves?AUL calendar activities for 2012Regular conferencing, ongoing engagement

and discussionsMaintain and update SOP to ensure validity

of quality servicesExpand most of laboratory budgetGuarantee the availability of resources to

efficiently deliver the servicesCorroborate staff training and competency

certificates

•Communicate and work closely with respective jurisdictions (government agencies, community organizations & groups) to formulate strategies or plans and preparations in joint efforts to take action against the rise in NCDs across the region.

What do laboratorians need from other affiliate groups to do their job effectively?Constant interaction, involvement and

cooperation.As laboratorians, active participation in

community outreach programs including awareness, educational activities and functions.

Collaboration with clinicians and other health care providers.

•Maintaining collaboration and teamwork amongst affiliate members is vital.•Ministers, Secretaries and Directors of Health– give full support in initiating & implementing LQMS and policy decision making, salary increment & infrastructure•Doctors – assist in identifying NCD core essential lab tests•Nurses – understanding the importance of pre-analytical test preparations •Pharmacists – recommendation & update of antibiotics available to support lab susceptibility testing•Mental health – drug treatment recommendations to aid lab in providing appropriate lab testing

In conclusion…As members of this laboratory networking group, we

intend to work towards these future goals, with regards to the NCD response:

Work closely with public health or hospital surveillance programs, at both local and state levels, to better strengthen laboratory support for surveillance

With PIHOA affiliation, seek and support continued training for laboratory personnel and assist with the procuring of, or providing diagnostic needs

Set up lab networking guidelines to enhance services and improve on NCD testing capacities

Continue to acknowledge and share our collective needs, problems, implement solutions and improvements for the benefit of not only AUL as a group, but also our individual respective jurisdictions.

Thank You!Fa'afetai.... Sulan....

Si yuus maasi... Kili so....Kalangan...

Kommol....

Kulo... Kam magar... Mahalo...