Last week, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization Africa Region (WHO AFRO), and the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMRO), organized a 4-day consultative workshop from 2-5 September 2024 in in Nairobi, Kenya to develop a framework for cross-border sample referral under the Joint Emergency Action Plan (JEAP). Supported by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office of Advanced Molecular Detection (OAMD) and the Coronavirus Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), this initiative aims to enhance biosafety, biosecurity, and optimize testing through the proper packaging, handling, and transportation of infectious substances.
The workshop brought together 25 experts from African Union Member States and key stakeholders to collaborate on the standardization of principles and methods for an efficient cross-border sample referral network. By addressing critical gaps in sample management, this framework will improve health systems across Africa.
Mr. Edwin Shumba, ASLM Portfolio Lead, opened the workshop by emphasizing the importance of strengthening laboratory systems and networks. Dr. Juliana Ndasi, Portfolio Lead at ASLM, continued by reiterating the organization’s strategic goals to apply the framework continent-wide. Dr. Aytenew Ashenafi Eshete from Africa CDC highlighted past efforts in specimen referral, calling for active participation from attendees to develop a sustainable framework. Mrs. Rachel Achilla, Technical Adviser at WHO AFRO, underscored the challenges posed by disease outbreaks and the need for swift detection through robust sample referral networks.
The workshop featured presentations on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted the benefits of cross-border collaboration and cooperation in addressing the outbreak. The delegates worked tirelessly to develop the draft framework for cross-border sample referral and outlined the next steps for implementation in the coming months. This initiative marks a critical step forward in strengthening Africa’s capacity to handle infectious disease samples efficiently.