Strengthening national health laboratories in sub‐Saharan Africa: a decade of remarkable progress
Open Access
- 10 February 2014
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Tropical Medicine & International Health
- Vol. 19 (4), 450-458
- https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.12269
Abstract
Objectives Efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic have underscored the fragile and neglected nature of some national health laboratories in Africa. In response, national and international partners and various governments have worked collaboratively over the last several years to build sustainable laboratory capacities within the continent. Key accomplishments reflecting this successful partnership include the establishment of the African‐based World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO‐AFRO) Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA); development of the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) training programme; and launching of a Pan African‐based institution, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM). These platforms continue to serve as the foundations for national health laboratory infrastructure enhancement, capacity development and overall quality system improvement. Further targeted interventions should encourage countries to aim at integrated tiered referral networks, promote quality system improvement and accreditation, develop laboratory policies and strategic plans, enhance training and laboratory workforce development and a retention strategy, create career paths for laboratory professionals and establish public–private partnerships. Maintaining the gains and ensuring sustainability will require concerted action by all stakeholders with strong leadership and funding from African governments and from the African Union.Keywords
This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown: Quality of Clinical Laboratories in Kampala, UgandaPLOS ONE, 2013
- The Role of Public Health Institutions in Global Health System Strengthening Efforts: The US CDC's PerspectivePLoS Medicine, 2012
- HIV testing in developing countries: What is required?Indian Journal Of Medical Research, 2011
- Low quality of routine microscopy for malaria at different levels of the health system in Dar es SalaamMalaria Journal, 2011
- Field Experience in Implementing ISO 15189 in Kisumu, KenyaAmerican Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2010
- Improving Quality Management Systems of Laboratories in Developing CountriesAmerican Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2010
- Laboratory Systems and Services Are Critical in Global HealthAmerican Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2010
- Country Leadership and Policy Are Critical Factors for Implementing Laboratory Accreditation in Developing CountriesAmerican Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2010
- Health workforce attrition in the public sector in Kenya: a look at the reasonsHuman Resources for Health, 2009
- Critical Role of Developing National Strategic Plans as a Guide to Strengthen Laboratory Health Systems in Resource-Poor SettingsAmerican Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2009