The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is making significant strides in enhancing health systems across the continent by incorporating its Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS) training into university curricula. This initiative, which follows the One Health approach, highlights the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in maintaining robust public health systems.
Over the past two years, Africa CDC has led comprehensive LQMS training programs, fostering resource-sharing and sparking vital discussions on integrating this training into higher education. The most recent session, held in Accra, Ghana, from July 15-19, 2024, brought together 29 participants from 15 African Union member states, representing both animal and human health laboratories.
"By empowering laboratory leaders with LQMS knowledge, Africa CDC aims to ensure comprehensive implementation across all African Union countries," said Donewell Bangure, Principal Technical Officer of Laboratory Systems at Africa CDC. He underscored the significance of these trainings in equipping laboratory leaders with the skills necessary to uphold high-quality practices for accurate disease diagnosis and response.
The Accra training underscored the pressing need for integrated laboratory quality management systems across different health sectors. Bangure highlighted the substantial gap in Quality Management Systems (QMS) implementation using the One Health approach, noting that past efforts were often isolated. “The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a lack of cohesion among laboratories from different sectors, demonstrating the necessity for a unified approach,” he explained.
The training program has already shown positive outcomes in fostering collaboration and improving resource-sharing among laboratories. Dr. Eugene Bwalya, a veterinary surgeon from the University of Zambia, commended the initiative for enhancing laboratory networking across member states and sparking discussions on incorporating LQMS training into university curricula.
The next phase of training, set for August in Senegal, will focus on French-speaking countries. The primary goal remains to expand the reach and impact of the LQMS training program, embedding it within university curricula to ensure sustainable development. “Embedding these programs in educational systems will cultivate a culture of excellence in laboratory quality management and One Health practices, ensuring long-term commitment to strengthening public health systems across Africa,” added Bangure.
Nqobile Ndlovu, Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), emphasized the collaborative efforts in developing the Africa CDC LQMS curriculum. "We are dedicated to prioritizing the rollout of this program in member states," Ndlovu stated. “Together, we can strengthen laboratory systems, improve public health outcomes, and advance global health security.”
Article by Nyokabi Wanjiku
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