Daniel Yavo

• Guidance to MOH and in-country implementation partners to improve the quality of HIV testing in PEFAR-supported countries.
• Oversee the laboratory program design, budget, and partners' performance management and provide technical assistance and guidance to the Ministry of Health and other national and international partners and collaborators on all aspects of HIV lab diagnostics service delivery and surveillance program, and conduct major statistical studies.
• Provide technical assistance to the MOH team on surveillance of priority diseases (e.g., HIV, TB, cholera, vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), malaria, acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), lymphatic filariasis (LF), rabies)
• Provide leadership and technical guidance on managing other public health systems and prevention programs (including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), COVID)
• Lead and provide technical assistance in the development and revision of various national guidelines and policies (i.e., Lab policy, Lab quality and EQA manuals, National self-testing guidelines for targeted populations, National Plan for POC optimization and integration, and National COVID-19 testing decentralization plan)
• Monitor HIV VL/EID decentralization activities (Centralized lab in the Southern region and GeneXpert network)
• Strengthen quality management systems and promote approaches to improve the accuracy and reliability of diagnostics throughout the national lab network.
• Work closely with the lab partners (Ministry of Health, private and non-private organizations, and other USG agencies- USAID) to monitor the implementation of priority lab activities, programs, and review of data to provide recommendations.
• Participate in COP planning meetings/discussions and represent the CDC
• Work closely with the CDC-Haiti ADS and CoAg team to review CDC lab budgets (PEPFAR, ARPA, DGHP, Covid), provide guidance to partners to ensure activities are aligned with the COP21 and DGHP SOW, or for redirection to support the program goals
• Performed complex troubleshooting and assisted in leading initiatives to solve challenging scientific problems with assays or instrumentation.
• Trained new employees on areas of technical expertise and compliance issues relevant to lab setting.
• Provided Technical Assistance in HIV, Malaria, tuberculosis (TB) surveillance program
• Simultaneously managed several complex projects, meeting all pertinent milestones.
• Evaluated emerging research trends, positioning organization at forefront of innovation.
• Facilitated interdisciplinary research projects, merging diverse perspectives to tackle complex scientific questions.
• Negotiated with suppliers to obtain high-quality materials at reduced costs, maximizing budget efficiency.
• Mentored junior scientists, elevating overall expertise within team.
• Enhanced laboratory efficiency by streamlining experimental protocols.
• Organized international scientific conferences, promoting knowledge exchange and networking.
• Conducted field research in challenging environments, expanding empirical base of study.
• Conducted in-depth data analysis to uncover hidden patterns, contributing to breakthroughs in scientific understanding.
• Increased accuracy of test results through meticulous attention to detail during data analysis and interpretation.
• Supported research projects with timely specimen collection, preparation, and documentation for various studies.
• Reviewed scholarly articles pertaining to microbiology trends, staying up-to-date on emerging technologies and incorporating them into current methodologies.

Consultant for AMLS (African Medical Laboratory Services), with the support of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in Abidjan – Cote d'Ivoire, 11 – 07-26, 2014

• Led and provided technical assistance in the review of general and technical documents according to ISO15189:2012
• Provided coaching of CDC/Projet Retro-CI's Laboratory for ISO 15189: 2012 Accreditation.
• Assisted with internal audit in selected sections for accreditation
• Assist in SOP writing

Consultant for AMLS (African Medical Laboratory Services), with the support of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM)– Cote d'Ivoire 05-26 – 06-10, 2014

• Provided technical assistance and coaching of the serology section of the National Blood Bank/MOH for ISO 15189: 2012 Accreditation.
• Review of procedure and implementation of recommendations from the previous audit about quality control.

Consultant for ASM in DRC 09-15-30, 2014

• Provided technical guidance and input to the national infection prevention and control (IPC) draft strategic plan during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in DRC
• Helping to define the national HIV diagnostic algorithm for DRC - MOH
• Assisted and revised the protocol for the 2nd phase of the HIV algorithm evaluation

Consultant for PATH (TB program support) in DR Congo 05-12-17, 2013

• Facilitate a workshop for validation of the strategic plan for the TB lab network and the TB lab Policy.
• Led and assisted in the planning of next steps with MOH TB experts.

Consultant for ASM in DR Congo 03-17-05-10, 2013

• Supported the design, implementation, and monitoring of behavioral and social interventions, policies, and research in DRC's Integrated Biological-Behavioral Surveillance (IBBS)
• Provided TA in data analysis and troubleshooting
• Consultant for PATH (TB program support) - DRC 12-17-31, 2012
• Finalize the TB laboratory assessment in the DRC report
• Draft a Strategic Plan for the TB lab network in DRC

Consultant for AKESO Associate (Health-Development and Sustainability) 10-15-31, 2012

• Conducted Mid-Term Evaluation of Vaccination project SURVAC, Funded by Bill & Melinda GATES foundation, Implemented by WHO, CDC-foundation and National Health Institutes in Central Africa Republic, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Republic of Congo.
• SURVAC project supports the MOHs' National Public Health Institute on Priority disease (Malaria, HIV, TB, Cholera…), Potential Epidemic Disease (PED), and Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) in five countries of Central Africa.
• Assisted with the development of indicator logic models and performance measurement activities to attain objectives
• Provided strategic data analysis, recommendations, and a strategic plan on the way forward to the MOHs and the Gates Foundation

Consultant for ASM in DRC 07-15-09-16, 2012

• Follow up on PMTCT Acceleration Plans- related activities accomplished between April and June 2012.
• Supervise the training of healthcare providers in different regions; assist PNLS-NRL Focal Points in relocating QA activities and in coordinating QA activities across the nation.
• Guide MOH and in-country partners
• Consultant for ASM in DR Congo 04-10 –06-1, 2012
• Assist DRC with developing a quality assurance (QA) component for HIV and CD4 testing, headed by the HIV/AIDS Reference Laboratory (PNLS) of the MOH in Kinshasa.
• Assist with training personnel on HIV rapid testing and CD4, along with supervising QA/quality control (QC) processes at select preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) sites of MOH, and for various surveys.

Consultant for APHL (Association of Public Health Laboratories) in DR Congo 07-01 – 08-05, 2011

• Laboratories need assessment (including HIV, TB, Malaria, and other PED) in 10 provinces of the DRC to prepare the update of the National Laboratories Policy.
• Led lab experts in drafting the Strategic Plan for MOH's Laboratory Medicine in DRC

Consultant for American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) 06-2011 – 7-2011

• Translation from English to French of Phlebotomy Course Modules for French-speaking countries.

Consultant for ASM in DR Congo 04-03 – 05-06, 2011

• Supervision and assistance for HIV and Syphilis retesting of samples from 40 sites of MOH and NGOs in the country
• Provided a correct algorithm for testing
• Analyzed results and provided recommendations to MOH and partners

Consultant for ASM – DRC 01-17 – 02-25, 2011

• Assistance for training & supervision of HIV sero-surveillance among pregnant women in DRC; this includes sample management and transportation from 40 sites in the country to the National Reference Laboratory in Kinshasa

Consultant for ASM in DR Congo 10-11-22, 2010

• Reviewed and revised HIV rapid testing strategies and algorithms.
• Assistance in improving the HIV rapid testing training
• Assistance in improving Quality Control and Quality Assurance
• Volunteer for ASCP in Haiti (HUEH, Port au Prince) 06-07 – 25, 2010
• Needs assessment of the MOH after the earthquake.
• Provided actionable recommendations for the laboratory Workflow, Quality management, Biosafety, and Personnel management to the MOH and partners
• Assisted in developing and editing a template form for laboratory SOPs, hematology, Serology, TB, Chemistry, and CD4 count.
• Maintained overall safe work environment with employee training programs and enforcement of safety procedures.
• Educated staff on organizational mission and goals to help employees achieve success.
• Evaluated client needs and expectations, establishing clear goals for each consulting engagement.
• Liaised with customers, management, and sales team to better understand customer needs and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to successfully deliver comprehensive solutions for clients.
• Streamlined internal processes to enhance team efficiency and improve overall project outcomes.
• Analyzed data sets to identify trends and opportunities for process improvements within client organizations.

• Participated in the Elaboration of the Ivorian National external assessment scheme (NEQAS) for HIV diagnostics of public laboratories for the Ivorian Ministry of Health laboratories.
• Implemented the national quality assurance scheme for HIV testing and diagnostics (i.e., Quality Assurance, Quality control, and Quality assessment) for public labs and trained laboratory technicians.
• Strengthened laboratory network and quality management systems to improve accuracy and reliability of diagnostics, and led efforts to optimize it for adequate access
• Coordinated the establishment of external quality assessment schemes and biosafety/biosecurity measures for Public HIV/TB testing laboratories for the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Non-Governmental Organizations
• Implemented quality control and quality assurance activities for HIV/TB testing, Chemistry, and CD4 count for more than 200 sites.
• Provided Coaching, Monitoring, and Evaluation of Counseling and Laboratory testing activities (HIV, TB, Malaria, Chemistry) and supported the National Health Institute (Institut Pasteur, Institut d’Hygiene)
• Analyze data received and send feedback.
• HIV serology diagnosis unit/Immuno-Hematology/Virology, Projet RETRO-CI / CDC/ GAP (Field Office of CDC-Atlanta in Ivory Coast) 07/1990 – 06/2008
• Performed phlebotomy, received specimens, performed data entry, and reported results.
• Performed a variety of tests for a clinical diagnostic laboratory, including chemistry, hematology, and immunology
• Performed basic microbiology (bacteriology, virology, parasitology, and serology) procedures, including pipetting, bacteriology isolation techniques, microscope work, and staining slides.
• Provided technical assistance to HIV sero-surveillance activities (ANC sero-survey, DHS)
• Provided regional technical assistance to set up the CDC serology HIV/TB laboratory in Bamako, Mali – West Africa
• Trained lab personnel on various HIV/TB diagnostic techniques, good laboratory practice (GLP)
• Guided the quality control and assurance program to be implemented in the lab
• Assisted in developing and editing laboratory SOPs