Uganda hosts successful regional lab training for East, Central, and Southern Africa

5 September 2024, 5:51 pm

Byamukama Alozious

During the closing ceremony of the East, Central, and Southern Africa/Global Fund and African Society for Laboratory Medicine regional training for biomedical engineers and laboratory scientists in equipment maintenance and external quality assurance (EQA) panel production, Uganda’s National Health Laboratory was recognised as a regional centre of excellence. The event, held at the Ministry of Health in Wandegaya, Kampala, highlighted Uganda’s growing leadership in laboratory capacity building.

Dr Sudan Nabadda, Commissioner of the National Health Laboratory department, remarked, “We have been spearheading a series of trainings that have attracted increasing participation from across the continent, solidifying our position as a regional centre of excellence.”

Dr Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, emphasised the importance of the training. “The milestones we achieve will benefit the ordinary person in Africa and depend on our collective efforts,” she said. Dr Atwine urged trainees to leverage their skills to drive transformation in laboratory services and to build effective teams.

Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health, stressed the value of regional collaboration. “Our approach to building regional capacity is rooted in collaboration. Effective regional strength comes from sharing experiences and supporting one another to improve diagnostic quality and reliability,” she stated.

Dr Aceng also voiced concerns about antimicrobial resistance related to typhoid, stating, “The population is suffering from antimicrobial resistance because we are treating conditions incorrectly. I urge the laboratory community to address typhoid decisively and ensure accurate diagnoses to prevent further resistance issues.”

A total of 36 participants, selected by their countries, were trained during the event. The sessions, which focused on critical areas such as equipment maintenance and EQA panel production, saw a notable increase in participation, highlighting Uganda’s expanding role as a leader in laboratory excellence.

The National Health Laboratory’s strategic plan for 2021-2025 aims to enhance laboratory systems, improve human resource competence, and collaborate with regulatory bodies to effectively manage public health challenges.