GLOBAL HEALTH

• Coordinating Between Laboratory and Other Health Sectors. Fellows facilitated communication and collaboration between laboratory teams, epidemiology teams and other health sectors ensuring smooth operations and timely communication.

• Logistics Coordination. Fellows ensured the delivery of Ebola sample collection kits to affected areas, enabling timely sample collection, packaging and referral to testing laboratories.

• Coordinating Sample Collection and Testing. Fellows oversaw Ebola sample collection, testing and result reporting. They ensured all suspected cases were tested, and results were shared at the Ministry of Health level.

• Providing Daily Laboratory Response Updates. Fellows kept stakeholders, including epidemiologists, informed with daily updates on laboratory activities, including testing statistics, positive gains and areas of improvement.

• Advocating for Laboratory Support. Through advocacy efforts, laboratory leadership fellows were able to garner the necessary support and resources from laboratory stakeholders and partners.

• Monitoring Sample Management and Turnaround Time( TAT). Fellows tracked sample management and ensured rapid testing and reporting, minimizing delays in case identification and response.

In addition to their Ebola response activities, laboratory leadership fellows also analyzed mpox laboratory data and provided critical information for decisionmaking during national pillar meetings. This analysis led to discussions about the rising positivity rates despite active surveillance, which was further explored with FETP fellows, showcasing the synergy between the two programs.

Uganda’ s LLP, implemented in corroboration with FETP, serves as a model for GLLP implementation worldwide. The program has demonstrated the importance of collaboration between laboratory and epidemiology teams in improving outbreak identification and response. The successes during the Ebola response and the analysis of mpox data underscore the significance of effective training and coordination in strengthening laboratory systems and public health responses. With more cohorts currently in training, the program’ s success will continue to resonate, supporting Uganda’ s public health infrastructure and offering a framework for other countries looking to build resilient laboratory systems in the face of global health threats. g