World Health Organization African Region national heads of units of diagnostics and laboratory services meetings proceedings.

Abstract

Background: In the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region, many cases of serious and preventable diseases remain unmanaged because appropriate and good quality diagnostic support is not available at all levels within countries' health systems. Diagnostic and laboratory services influence the efficiency and effectiveness of both clinical and public health functions, including diagnosis, treatment, health promotion, disease prevention, surveillance and response, and research. Essential to global health security, these services are vital to decision-making processes by clinicians, epidemiologists, public health specialists, and health policymakers. To update, promote, and reinforce diagnostic and laboratory services, it was deemed necessary to organize consultation meetings. These consultation meetings hosted: national diagnostic and laboratory directors or heads of units within ministries of health; officers in charge of laboratories from WHO country offices; representatives of the WHO African Regional Office (AFRO) clusters, units, and Headquarters; experts; and strategic partners. This article details the consultation meetings hosted in Lomé, Togo from 14 to 17 June 2022 and in Kigali, Rwanda from 5 to 7 July 2022.

Methods: Although the two meetings were made distinct due to their different operating languages-French and English, respectively-each consultative meeting sought to engage participants in the same thematic areas of discussion, thus containing the same presentations and areas of discussion. This article compiles the presentations of both meetings, where a total of 85 individuals attended, reflecting 30 countries in the African Region.

Results: Summaries of technical presentations at both meetings are provided, which have the following titles: (1) "AFRO: new vision for the laboratory sector;" (2) "WHO strategies for strengthening laboratories;" (3) "Collaborative registration process for in vitro diagnostic products: introduction and implementation;" (4) "Status of diagnostics and laboratory regulations in the African Region;" (5) "Health technology management;" (6) "The Global Laboratory Leadership Programme;" (7) "Model list of essential in vitro diagnostic devices;" (8) "Primary health care & laboratory and diagnostic services;" (9) "Antimicrobial resistance control and laboratory systems;" and (10) "Integrated laboratory systems' contributions to disease control programmes."

Discussion: Following the technical presentations, thematic exchanges were planned around six key areas, with one country presenting their experiences per theme, both at the meeting held in French and for the meeting held in English. Therefore, two countries' experiences are detailed around each of the six thematic areas, which are: laboratory governance (Guinea and Sierra Leone), laboratory policy and planning (Togo and Zimbabwe), regulation and legislation (Senegal and Ghana), partnerships (the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria), management of laboratory technology (Gabon and Zambia), and national laboratory networks (Burkina Faso and Rwanda).

Conclusion: Through these meetings, laboratory leaders were able to not only learn from best practices and anticipate challenges for their own respective countries, but also benefit from joining a platform for laboratory leaders to foster cross-country connections for the duration of their careers. Ultimately, these meetings signal the beginning of many fruitful collaborations and opportunities in the African Region in laboratory and diagnostic services.