Bernard Weimi

I am a self-motivated and seasoned professional with over 23 years of work experience in the health sector of which 12 years have been in management positions leading high-performing teams. I provide technical and management support on systems-strengthening initiatives such as quality management systems (QMS) and Infrastructure support, building staff capacity, and giving leadership in networking, Data analysis, and Information Management Systems.

I have skills in project management which I have utilized to lead 4 projects to a successful conclusion. I have the ability to integrate exceptional organizational and people management skills to motivate colleagues; to drive and meet the objectives of an organization within the scope, time, and budget.

PROJECT COORDINATOR (Technical) – RESOLVE & LABCOP – KENYA| AFRICAN SOCIETY FOR LABORATORY MEDICINE(ASLM) | JUNE 2020 TO MARCH2021

This position involved Planning, budgeting, coordination, facilitation, monitoring, and Evaluation of ASLM program activities for the RESOLVE SurgeCov19Testing project in Kenya and the Bill and Melinda Gates (BMGF) Laboratory Community of Practice (LabCop) in the day-to-day management of partners and project activities, ensuring compliance with the policies and procedures of ASLM and its funding partners for uniformity of the approach.

Achievements and Contributions

1. Access to Testing: Accelerated SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics by expanding COVID-19 diagnostic networks from 3 laboratories to 49 laboratories in 6 months boosting the country’s daily testing capacity from 1200 tests to 12,000 tests per day.
2. Reduced Turn-around time (TAT): Redesigned and fast-tracked sample shipment from the collection and processing points to the diagnostics facilities and integrated transmission results through the web-based system thereby decreasing the national TAT from 2 - 3 weeks in June 2020 to 3 – 5 days by November 2020
3. National EQA performance repository: Established a Web-based national COVID-19 EQA dashboard that reorganized total quality management and streamlined EQA performance monitoring of COVID-19 diagnostic facilities.
4. Quality Management Systems: Working in synergy with laboratory stakeholders and multi-lateral partners,I restructured the QMS monitoring system and moved from 94% to achieve a score of 100% in the subsequent rounds international PT Scheme.
5. Capacity enhancement: Structured South-to-South peer learning through virtual forums (Zoom webinars and Slack) by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and the international community for scientific information exchange to catalyze overall quality of performance of laboratory service delivery and infection prevention activities.
6. Biosafety and Biosecurity review: Utilized SharePoint to facilitate the review of Kenya’s country’s Biosafety/Biosecurity training curriculum to include animal health and plant sector under the one-health approach
7. Continuous professional development (CPD): Virtual and in-person training activities on the latest updates. Uploaded and updated ASLM Resource Centre with up-to-date discussion on the LabCoP ECHO channel and maintained an active and continuous flow of interaction on Strengthening the Laboratory Community of Practice (LabCoP) on the organization website, blogs, and social media platforms (WhatsApp, Slack, Twitter, and LinkedIn) 

FREELANCE LABORATORY CONSULTANT AND QMS SPECIALIST -JUNE 2018 TO MAY 2020 AND APRIL 2021 TO PRESENT

In this role, I offer my services as a Quality Management Systems mentor and SLMTA Champion on consultancy services for organizations and the Ministry of Health facilities.

Achievements and Contributions

1. Performance improvement: Carried out rigorous audits using the PDCA cycles, Gantt charts, and dashboards with meticulous attention to detail. Planned and oversaw facility audits using the SLIPTA checklists achieving improvement of over 80% in the areas of focus within 6 months.
2. Mentorship and site capacity enhancement: Conducted mentorship and closing 75% of non-conformities in 6 facilities within a year, organized and completed staff competency assessments and in-house training on improvements projects.
3. Report generation and presentation: Trained quality managers on report writing and presentation for quality meetings. There were comprehensive written reports designed for improvement solutions for laboratories.
4. Supervision: Tracked and supervised all targeted facilities to ensure that they are on track. Reviewed site-specific quality management SOPs according to GCLP. Participated in facility quality review meetings.

PROJECT OFFICER & LABORATORY LEAD |PAMOJA & TIMIZA 90 PROJECT| ELIZABETH GLASERPEDIATRIC AIDS FOUNDATION| OCTOBER 2011 TO AUGUST 2018

This Position required the provision of technical assistance and support in the planning budgeting and implementation of laboratory services plans for HIV/AIDS, Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), and TB diagnostics for the supported Ministry of Health facilities (project sites) and community units.

Achievement and Contributions

1. Development and Execution of the Laboratory Work plan: An annual operational plan was derived from the work plan with site County specific and Sub- County specific priorities. In both projects, there was 100% implementation of work plan deliverables
2. Facility assessments: Conducted a comprehensive laboratory assessment which informed the laboratory human resources gap, knowledge, technological capacity, and infrastructural gaps including physical space insufficiencies.
3. Laboratory network improvements and efficiencies: Overhauled the laboratory sample transport network, making it a comprehensive transport system for all HIV/AIDS, TB, EID viral load, hematology, and biochemistry samples thus improving efficiency and saving related costs.
4. Infrastructure improvement: Procured equipment, liaised for high throughput machine placements in facilities that had the need to support the lab network, and conducted facility improvements through minor renovations to support laboratory service delivery – all targeted facilities were reached.
5. Decentralization of laboratory diagnostic: Established laboratory diagnostic hubs and decentralized CD4 and TB testing from the traditional centralized sites to the hubs thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the laboratory network – there was increased utilization from 40% to 92% access to diagnostic services
6. Rapid Testing Continuous Quality Improvement (RTCQI): Introduction, mentorship, and implementation of RTCQI with 5 RTCQI champions that ensure compliance with rapid HIV testing and registration of sites as 85% HTS accredited sites
7. Reduction of commodity stockouts: Decentralized laboratory commodity management and reporting to the hubs in the sub-counties where laboratory commodity data would be cleaned before pooling to the sub-county reports (HCMP) to aid in monitoring laboratory flow of commodities, procurement, and tracking activities.
8. Quality assessment and improvements: Improved the performance of diagnostic sites from less than 65% to over 85% in all EQA assessments for Rapid HIV testing (National PT scheme), CD4 EQA (UK NEQAS), HuQAS for Biochemistry and Hematology and improvement in TB blinded rechecking
9. Efficient laboratory information management system (LIMS): Supported Supported the creation of a functional web-based laboratory information system linking up central labs with the hubs and merged this with the National reporting platforms systems (DHIS2).

ACTING PREVENTION ADVISOR AND HTS LEAD | TIMIZA90 PROJECT| ELIZABETH GLASER PEDIATRIC AIDS FOUNDATION | OCTOBER 2016 TO JULY 2017

Planning, Budgeting, Implementation, and Monitoring of Prevention program activities. Translation of work plan to operational plans. Providing Technical support for HTS services, conducting support supervision for all HIV testing services for the HTS providers and health care workers in Outpatient clinics, PMTC clinics, and all special clinics within the facilities, ensuring the quality provision of HTS services. Providing leadership for Prevention services including community services

1. Developed work plans and ensured the implementation of the work plan is adhered to. – Operational plan was derived from the project plan and disseminated to all project officers for implementation
2. Provided technical support and quality HIV services and ensured all providers are enrolled and participated in the national PT program – There was a 100% enrolment and 96% performance on PT send-outs
3. Supported the development and implementation of high-yielding strategies including partner notification services (PNS) – Availability of PNS strategies that improved identification of HIV cases towards the 1st 90% of the 90-90-90 target
4. Participated in the review of guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and data tools and ensured that they are adhered to.
5. Supported the quality improvement (QI) strategies and RTCQII including counselor supervision, observed practice, and mentorships activities to enhance the quality-of-service provision
6. Developed and piloted the facility and county HIV-positive linkage registers and ensured that linkages between testing points and ART clinics are strengthened.
7. Organized and participated in regular facility-based meetings and program meetings to facilitate program improvements including joint meetings of adherence counselors, peers and HTS providers to harmonize activities

LABORATORY SUPERVISOR – WESTERN | AIDS  POPULATION  HEALTH  INTEGRATED  ASSISTANCE –APHIA II WESTERN | MARCH 2008 TO DECEMBER 2010

In this role as a seconded staff from the Ministry of Health to the APHIA II Western project, my role was technical to design and support the expansion of, and implementation of the Laboratory Networks in support of ART and PMTCT programs, Plan and organize laboratory diagnostic activities in relation to HIV/AIDS and support quality delivery of these services in the western province – Kenya

Achievement and Contributions

1. Design of the laboratory network: Designed and created a well-coordinated Laboratory network to support CD4 diagnosis by expanding the laboratory network for the ART program from 3 facilities to 12 facilities for to cover all the Level IV hospitals in the 1st one year in Western province.
2. Renovations and facility improvements: Advised the project on physical infrastructure improvements and renovations of the laboratory to improve space thereby creating a safe and conducive environment for laboratory services in the 9 expanded facilities, which were completed in the 2ndyear of the project
3. Procurement of high through-put equipment: Procured, distributed supported installation, maintenance, calibration, training, and qualification additional CD4 equipment, Biosafety cabinets, Hematology& Biochemistry analyzers and microscopes to all the additional 9 level IV facilities to support the HIV programming
4. Service contracts and repairs: Working closely with nationally approved and accredited vendors and service providers, in conjunction with site-level medical engineers networked and provided service contracts for high throughput equipment.
5. Decentralization of services: Supported the training of Nursing officers in good phlebotomy techniques to support the decentralization of sample collection services to MCH units thereby causing an exponential increase in the diagnosis of HIV Exposed Infants (HEIs)  for the PMTCT program from less than 10% to over 80% in the 1st year.
6. Initiated the Western Province EQA scheme: Established an internal EQA scheme (WEPEQAS) to complement the UK NEQAS for CD4 and HuQAS for Biochemistry and Hematology which were not regular thereby strengthening quality monitoring
7. Support for LIMS: With the initiation of a robust sample transport network for the referral of laboratory samples from collection sites to facilities I initiated elaborate laboratory reporting and feedback mechanisms thereby reducing Turn-around Time for lab results

DISTRICT MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST |MINISTRY OF HEALTH        –

MUMIAS DISTRICT| MARCH 2005 TO MARCH 2008

1. Conducted quarterly supervisory visits to facilities to determine staff performance and to aid in solving operational difficulties
2. Conducted capacity-building initiatives, enhanced knowledge transfer and ensured competency is maintained within the facilities
3. Maintained relevant qualifications and continually updated knowledge of the staff for optimized workflow.
4. Provided the Provincial Medical Laboratory Technologist with comprehensive written reports on staff performances, equipment, and laboratory reagents consumption reports for continued improvement of Laboratory Services
5. Increased overall productivity by working to understand the personal goals of team members, raising job satisfaction scores.
6. Led the development and delivery of an annual operational plan and budget in line with strategic priorities and laboratory goals
7. Managed 17 staff and used a targeted approach to training, hiring, and employee engagement.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES | MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY. Achievement: Pass
2. HIGHER DIPLOMA IN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES | KENYA MEDICAL TRAINING COLLEGE. Achievement: Credit pass: Major: - Hematology; Minor: - Blood Transfusion Sciences
3. DIPLOMA IN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES | KENYA MEDICAL TRAINING COLLEGE. Achievement: Credit Pass

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

1. KENYA CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION | LUBINU BOYS HIGH SCHOOL

Achievement: KCSE Mean Grade of C (+) Plus

1. KENYA CERTIFICATE OF PRIMARY EDUCATION| SHITOTO PRIMARY SCHOOL

Achievement: Scored an overall of 58/72 points