ELLAH BANDA- NYAMBE

• Maintain safety precautions in the laboratory
• Participating in ongoing professional development opportunities, staying current on best laboratory practices and emerging trends in HIV
• Participates in HIV and Recency testing services
• Participates in HIV Testing Services Technical support for Lusaka Province
• Collaborating with multiple partners to develop effective strategies for case management in line Viral load and Early infant diagnosis .
• Providing thorough training to junior members of staff to fostering professional growth and skill development.
• Mentoring new recruits during their probationary period, offering guidance on Quality management systems and Safety adherence, laboratory tactical skills, and professionalism
• Attending weekly dashboard meetings with the partners
• Sample processing for HIV Viral load for children, adolescents and adults
• Sample processing for early infant diagnosis for HIV exposed infants
• Sample processing and testing for HPV using Hologic Panther machine
• Drug resistance testing for clients failing treatment
• Incharge of task allocation on a monthly basis
• Conduct laboratory quality control procedures to ensure accurate and reliable results
• Execute the handling and preparation of specimens for laboratory analysis
• Enhance result referral to the district sites we service through authorization of results using the DISA-Lab system
• Engage in mentorship programs in Provincial Hospitals Anti Retroviral Treatment third line clinic, sharing expertise and knowledge
• Coordinate the ordering of laboratory reagents and consumables thereby optimizing inventory management and supply chain management for the laboratory commodities
• Actively participate in departmental meetings and other assigned gatherings
• Prepare comprehensive and accurate monthly laboratory reports
• Support research initiatives through the provision of accurate data and sample analysis
• Involved in laboratory equipment maintenance activities

Voluntary work at Virology laboratory

• Performing Internal Quality Control
• CD4 testing using both BD FACSCount and FACSCalibur
• HIV Testing using Determine and Unigold
• RPR Testing
• Hepatitis B Testing
• Temperature monitoring
• Entering of patients CD4 results using EPI info laboratory system.

• Enhanced communication between team members by organizing regular meetings and fostering open dialogue.
• Established effective relationships with key stakeholders both internally and externally for increased collaboration opportunities.
• Planned and budgeted laboratory activities to be undertaken by the program in the fiscal year, aligning with the National TB Program plans
• Supported activities of other partners within TBCAP in Zambia such as Family Health International (FHI) and World Health Organization (WHO), focusing on Laboratory Strengthening
• Assisted in the implementation of EQA Smear Microscopy in the Northern Zone of Zambia
• Utilized data-driven decision-making techniques to inform strategic planning processes and measure progress towards goals.
• Managed budgets effectively, ensuring optimal allocation of resources for necessary equipment and training.
• Provided technical support to the Ministry of Health through the National Reference TB Laboratory (CDL), with the main emphasis on the TB Quality Assurance Program
• Facilitated workshops organized by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in the areas of Quality Assurance in TB and Acid-fast Bacilli Smear microscopy with the view of increasing case detection rate
• Offered technical support to Luapula, Northern, Copperbelt, Central, and Northwestern Provinces (TBCAP target provinces) during quarterly External Quality Assessment (EQA) Supervisory visits
• Supported in the planning of National TB Laboratory activities in line with the National TB program
• Provided technical support to the Tuberculosis National Reference Laboratory when needed, especially with TB smear microscopy, media making, setting of TB drug susceptibility testing, and creating panel testing smears for EQA nationwide
• Participated in the development of National TB Laboratory documents, including Standard Operating Procedures, Trainers Manual, Internal Quality Control Manuals, and the revision of the Quality Assurance manual
• Attended provincial Quarterly TB review meetings in the 5 TBCAP target Provinces
• Assisted in editing National TB Laboratory documents
• Wrote monthly and quarterly reports on behalf of JATA HQ to the Program Director

• Processing of routine AFB smear microscopy
• Processing TB Culture on Lowenstein Jensen Media (LJ)
• Setting of TB Culture on Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT)
• Performing TB Drug Susceptibility Test using MGIT
• Making of Lowenstein Jensen media (LJ)
• Participated in the quarterly program of Eternal Quality Assessment for Lusaka Province (all health centers doing TB smear microscopy)
• Writing of the TB EQA quarterly Reports
• Writing of the Annual Reports on TB activities
• Participated in TB EQA Data Management for the project
• Participated in organizing and facilitating at Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB)/EQA workshops organized by UTH TB laboratory with support from JICA Zambia.

• Developed professional skills through hands-on experiences, including time management and effective communication.
• Improved internship experience by efficiently managing assigned tasks and meeting deadlines.
• Received positive feedback from supervisors, reflecting a strong commitment to personal growth and development throughout the internship program.
• Hematology and Blood Banking: Did all the test that the laboratory does. Tests included, Cross matching, Reverse and forward grouping, blood products separation, collection of blood, screening of the donated blood for HIV, Hepatitis and syphilis. Did Thick and thin smear preparation, coagulation test.
• Microbiology: Did Microscopy, culturing of samples, reading of cultures and doing biochemical tests for bacteria identification, Tb smear microscopy and setting up drug susceptibility.
• Parasitology: Did stool and urine microscopy, malaria testing, sperm analysis
• Virology: Did CD4 testing, full blood count, Serology test (HIV, Hepatitis and Syphilis).
• Chemistry laboratory: Did chemistry testing such as Kidney function tests and Liver function tests.