In April 2022, a delegation from the Ghana Health Service, Centre for Health System Strengthening and CDC-Ghana visited Zambia to observe and understudy their sample referral implementation process.
From the 12th to 15th of September, 2022, a three-member team namely: Dr. Sam Yingst (Laboratory Advisor, CDC Zambia), Mr. Powell Choonga (Laboratory Advisor, Ministry of Health Zambia) and Ms. Mutitha Shisholeka (Quality Management Systems Coordinator, Ministry of Health Zambia) visited Ghana to monitor the progress of the sample referral activities at the various piloting sites and also to understudy the implementation of the SRS in Ghana.
The four-day visiting tour began on the 12th of September, 2022 in the Northern Region beginning with a courtesy call being paid to the Northern Regional Directorate (Ghana Health Service). The team visited Savelugu District Hospital (Mini hub), Tamale Central Hospital (Spoke), Tamale West Hospital (Spoke) and the Tamale Public Health Laboratory (Main hub) to understudy how samples are packaged, moved and received at various levels of sample transportation.
Documentations in the four categories of log books were checked to ensure records are properly done for future reference.
The team then proceeded to the various pilot sites in the Greater Accra Region on the 14th of September, 2022. A courtesy call was made to the Director for Public Health, Dr Franklin Asiedu- Bekoe and Director of Surveillance, Dr Dennis Laryea where the visiting team presented their activities on sample referral in Zambia while highlighting some strategies, performance achievement, challenges and recommendation to aid in the success of the SRS initiative in Ghana.
The team also visited some selected regional SRS sites, which included the National Public Health and Reference Laboratory, Adabraka Polyclinic, Ashaiman Polyclinic, Tema General Hospital and the Central Laboratory, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The Ghana team was represented by Dr Danielle Barradas (Global Health Security Agenda Director, CDC Ghana), Dr Bernard Nkrumah (Laboratory Advisor, CDC Ghana), Dr Michael Owusu (Executive Director, CfHSS), Mr. David Sambian (Director of Programs, CfHSS), Dr. Godfred Acheampong (Programs Coordinator, CfHSS), Ms Akosua Boakyewaa Amoasah (Administrative Assistant, CfHSS) and local SRS coordinators from the Northern and Greater Accra regions.
The visit was extremely beneficial as it has deepened collaboration between the two countries and provided a pivotal ground for knowledge sharing and ideas exchange.
