EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Marking APHL Milestones in Africa
I am writing this from 39,000 feet, on a
19-hour flight back to DC from Southern
Africa. I’ve spent the last 10 days visiting
three APHL “outposts,“ first in Guinea,
then Mozambique and finally Zimbabwe.
The visit to Guinea was bittersweet
since my purpose was to hand over the
products of almost three years of work
supported by CDC under the Global
Health Security Initiative. In 2015, in
the immediate aftermath of the West
African Ebola Outbreak, we were asked to
assist with the development of Guinea’s
laboratory systems. From the beginning
of the project, we knew it would be
difficult—infrastructure had crumbled and
the workforce was devastated due to the
outbreak. What struck me then, and was
confirmed by this visit, was the resilience
of the Guinean people and their desire to
have a lab system that could carry them
through future public health crises.
Due in large part to the leadership of
Dr. Alpha Diallo and his small but mighty
team, coupled with support from CDC,
APHL was able to train and institute a
quality management system at both the
national public health laboratory and
select major clinical laboratories operated
through the Ministry of Health. APHL
also played a major part in improving
the facility and functioning of the largest
hospital laboratory in the country, the
Ignace Deen Hospital in Conakry. Fittingly,
it was here that we gathered to officially
transfer the on-going management
and nurturing of the newly renovated
and now-functioning laboratory to the
Ministry of Health. While we are sad to
end our full-time presence in Guinea, we
hope there will be future opportunities
to contribute to the development of the
country’s laboratory system.
My experiences in Mozambique and
Zimbabwe differed from those in Guinea,
primarily because our activities are
supported by PEPFAR and we have been in
these countries longer.
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In Mozambique, APHL has had the
privilege of working on PEPFAR for over
10 years. Through the leadership of APHL
Mozambique team lead Solon Kidane, we
have been involved in national laboratory
policy, laboratory strategic planning and
development of a training laboratory. We
also have coordinated multiple twinning
arrangements with US state public health
laboratories and are now implementing a
nationwide LIMS.
I had the honor of touring the new
National Institute of Health, which is
the equivalent of Mozambique’s CDC. It
is a world-class facility housing a team
of exceptional scientists led by Director-
General Dr. Ilesh Jani, a Mozambican
physician and immunologist, and a
great friend and collaborator to APHL.
I was able to see how the laboratory
protects the health of Mozambicans by
detecting antibiotic resistance in bed nets
used to guard against malaria-carrying
mosquitoes. Although detection involves
laborious, low-tech methods, this testing
is critical to every resident of the country.
Years ago, APHL worked in Zimbabwe to
develop the laboratory system, but for
political reasons, we hadn’t been active
again until about five years ago. I’m now
proud to say that APHL is the principal
laboratory partner for PEPFAR programs
in Zimbabwe. We operate the specimen
transport system for PEPFAR-focused
regions and have placed mentors in the
major laboratories that are conducting
viral load testing for HIV. We have a staff
of 10 (and growing) that covers work in
quality systems, specimen transport,
lab information systems and, of course,
finance and operations to ensure that
we are successful. I visited one hospital
laboratory that was in the midst of
dealing with a cholera outbreak in Harare.
Again, there was evidence of APHL’s
involvement in the quality management
system, biosafety practices, and improved
instrumentation and facilities.
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In all countries, I met with CDC leadership
to share APHL’s deep commitment to
our vision of “a healthier world through
quality laboratory systems.” I am pleased
to report that, in these three countries, we
are progressing steadily toward fulfillment
of that vision.
On a personal note, this whirlwind trip
reminded me of the value of occasionally
getting out of the office, laboratory or
wherever you spend your days to meet
with those who benefit from your work.
It lifts your morale to see, touch, hear and
feel how your work affects others. n
In all countries, I met with
CDC leadership to share APHL’s
deep commitment to our vision of
“a healthier world through quality
laboratory systems.”
Scott Becker, Executive Director, APHL
Fall 2018 LAB MATTERS
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