As part of the Ministry of Health’s preparation to raise the Sultanate of Oman eligibility to request a WHO certification of malaria-free status that requires the availability of qualified and certified technicians in malaria microscopic diagnosis, (24) national participants from across the country have received training during the period of 8-19 January at the Malaria Lab of the Public Health Laboratories, Al Watiyah. The training was conducted to qualify them to obtain External Competency Assessment for Malaria Microscopists (ECAMM) certification.

Participants were divided into two batches, by twelve participants in each group. After the course, each group is assessed by external certified assessors for a period of one week and granted ECAMM once passing the assessment.

In this regard, the Public Health Laboratories of the MOH’s Directorate General of Disease Control and Surveillance, in collaboration with WHO office in the Sultanate of Oman held today (Thursday) an event at Muscat Holiday Hotel under the auspices of H.E. Dr. Saeed Harib Al Lamki, MOH’s Undersecretary for Health Affairs with the presence of H.E. Jean Jabbour, WHO Representative in Oman.

WHO Representative in Oman delivered a speech noting that the vision of WHO and the global malaria community is a world free of malaria. This vision will be achieved progressively by countries eliminating malaria from their territories and implementing effective measures to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.

H.E. Dr. Jabbour underlined vital role of microscopists to malaria programs, and significance of their diagnostic and technical skills in both curative services and disease surveillance, highlighting thus that training in malaria microscopy must be sound and must reach today’s high standards.

He expressed his pleasure in the efforts made by the Ministry of Health in Oman as is continuing to take serious steps toward addressing Malaria, emphasising meanwhile the need to a strong testing system to improve malaria surveillance.

Within the event, Dr. Hanan Al Kindi, Director of Central Health Laboratories gave an overview on Malaria and shed light on the achievements made in controlling the disease as well the efforts exerted in dealing with imported cases through early detection to prevent local transmission. 

Furthermore, levels of participants obtained in the examination were announced during the event in addition to the assessment criteria.

This competency assessment is conducted by two external experts from Kenya. Participants are certified from Level 1, the highest level of competence, to Level 4. The certification issued upon completion of the ECAMM course is valid for two years.

It should be noted that the assessment process is currently continuing.