For every facility participating in the laboratory collaborative, usually two laboratory persons attend the learning session. We encourage rotation of attendance so that as many people from the same lab as possible attend at least one. However LS2 was attended in addition by one PMTCT/ANC focal person and the health facility in-charge strategically to buy in their support as some of the activities here cross cut.
The general topics covered usually include Quality improvement principles and approaches as well as technical topics relevant to the collaborative (Early Infant Diagnosis, program and implementation update, the new strategies to improve its smooth running, CD4 test, equipment care and maintenance among others) The facilitation techniques used include illustrative lectures, group discussions and posters.Data and information are got from sites during the physical monthly coaching visits, phone calls and occasionally emails. Data got from sites are entered in a basic database to track performance over time. Improvement changes being tested at sites are also captured; Changes monitored over time and deemed to cause improvements across sites will be compiled and shared with interest groups.
Teams are communicating with each other remotely for now between learning session. through the coaches, a little more directly though with sites having regional coordinators who go out to visit other sites.