SPHaïtiLab Häiti - "a real added value for the laboratory system in Haiti"

"The SPHaïtiLab project represents a real added value for the health system, and more specifically the laboratory system in Haiti". This is the main conclusion of the mid-term external evaluation of this public health project. 

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SPHaïtiLab is one of the key projects which support the development of the Laboratory sector in Haiti. Its main objective is to contribute to improve the health of the population of Haiti by the analysis and the strategic advice regarding the policy of laboratories. It works within the framework of the Program “Support for the Institutes of Public health” of the European Commission which since 2015 supports also seven other projects to strengthen the capacity of public health institutes or schools worldwide (Bangladesh, Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Laos, Myanmar, Uganda).

SPHaïtiLab started in 2015 and will end in 2019. It is co-financed by the European Commission and Mérieux Foundation. SPHaïtiLab is implemented by four institutions: the Ministry of Public Health and Population through its National Laboratory of Public health (LNSP) and its Direction of the Epidemiology Laboratory and Research (DELR), the Haitian Group of Study of the Sarcoma of Kaposi and the Opportunist Infections (GHESKIO), the African Institute of Public Health (IASP) in Burkina Faso and the Mérieux Foundation in France.

At the end of 2017, an independent consultant in health project management, Mr Christian Grau, proceeded with the evaluation of the project SPHaïtiLab (Public Health for the Development of Laboratories). His work consisted in: 1) measuring the attainment of the objectives, after three years of implementation, through the indicators in the logical framework, 2) gauging the progress of activities, taking into account the Haitian context, and 3) giving an appreciation of the level of appropriation of the project by the national partners.

Mr. Grau met during his mission, the national and international coordination team of the project as well as the various partners in Haiti. These included the high authority of the Ministry of Public Health and Population, the GHESKIO centers, the Directorate of Epidemiology Laboratory and Research (DELR), the National Laboratory of Public Health (LNSP), the National Program to fight Tuberculosis (PNLT), Mérieux Foundation, SPHIP/GFA, Global Health Supply Chain - Technical Assistance (GHSC-TA), PAHO/ HO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-USA) and the delegation of the European Commission in Haiti. The consultant also visited the Center IMIS of Tabarre which is one of the five sites participating in the pilot study on prevalence of multidrug resistant tuberculosis.

The objective of this evaluation was to allow the main partners of the project provide feedback to improve and develop further the project, and to empower the LNSP in general.

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Recommendations before the end of SPHaïtiLab in 2019

The evaluator concluded, in his report of more than twenty pages, that the project generally reached the goals fixed at its start. "The activities realized since 2015 did not know major problems even if there were some constraints due to exogenous factors to its management, as for example the political instability and the hurricane Matthew in October 2016 ".

Mr. Grau, however, made some recommendations to optimize the impact of the project in Haiti. In particular, he advises to share further the results of the investigation on MDR-TB by the centers GHESKIO which begun in 2016. The team is encouraged to develop a larger network of partners for the LNSP with a broader communication policy. The consultant considered it essential to "Make fundraising a priority". He highlighted in particular, the importance of the “fundraising training” planned for this year as part of the project. He explains that it is increasingly difficult to mobilize donors for development projects, the priority having become these last years, the management of natural disasters and other humanitarian issues.

Marie Ludie Monfort PAUL

Communication officer of SPHaïtiLab