Week 1 in Windhoek, Namibia

There were 30 laboratory managers, QA/QC managers attending the Basic Laboratory Operations Training (BLOT) at Heja Game Lodge just outside of Windhoek, Namibia. Each day we covered a different component related to laboratory reporting accurate and reliable patient test results. In this picture, we are discussing Levey Jennings charts, how to construct them and how to interpret results to ensure control materials are within 2 SD range of the mean.

Namibia

This trip I am off to Namibia. Here are some quick facts about the country:

Population 1.83 million
Borders Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe – all accessible overland except Zimbabwe, which has no direct border crossing with Namibia
Seasons Long rainy season (January to April); dry (May to September); short rainy season (October to December)
Budget US$20 to US$25 per day
Capital Windhoek
Area 825, 000 sq km
Language English, Afrikaans, German, Owambo, Kavango, Herero, Khoikhoi (Nama/Damara), San dialects
Money Namibian dollar (N$); US$1 = N$7.5
More information about where we are going and what we are doing for the next 2 weeks.