Strengthening Public Health Laboratory Systems in Uganda (SPHLS)
- Post by: Matama Christine
- July 19, 2022
SPONSORS, FUNDERS PARTNERS: CDC
Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) is implementing a five-year nation-wide CDC funded CoAG that commenced 1st October 2021 and runs till 30th September 2026. This five-year grant worth $ 15 million is intended to support the government of Uganda through the department of National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic services (NHLDS) to strengthen laboratory systems and establish sustainable diagnostic optimized networks and partnerships for integrated HIV-related testing, disease surveillance and outbreak investigation in Uganda.
The grant is implemented through a consortium of three partners led by JCRC as the prime partner responsible for the management of the grant, Biolabs Red services (BLS) responsible for providing capacity development to the public health facilities towards achievement and sustenance of international accreditation and Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) responsible for digital improvement in the National Laboratory quality assurance dashboard.
In order to facilitate Uganda to achieve and monitor the PEPFAR targets and global 95-95-95 HIV goals by 2025 and fully implement the UNMHCP countrywide, the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) consortium will establish fully collaborative partnerships with the Ministry of Health’s Department of National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS) and its development partners, to build the institutional, managerial and technical capacity of the Uganda National Health Laboratory Services (UNHLS) at central, regional and district levels. This grant is being implemented under three key strategies prioritized as per the strategic plan of NHLDS and it will be implemented in more than 125 districts of Uganda.
Strategy 1: Strengthen the quality of laboratory services by supporting NHLDS implementation of quality management system using SLMTA and SLIPTA tools and processes to ensure accreditation of laboratories to ISO 15189:2012 & ISO 17025
Strategy 2: Capacity building for equipment maintenance and biosafety cabinets at the regional and national levels to ensure uninterrupted service delivery due to equipment breakdown
Strategy 3: Support NHLDS in implementing laboratory waste management policy and implementation plan, including surveillance of laboratory waste management practices, proper segregation of infectious waste, and waste disposal.
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