Between April and June 2025, the Laboratory Systems Strengthening Community of Practice (LabCoP), with support from the Gates Foundation and partner organizations, convened ten impactful ECHO sessions. These webinars brought together laboratory professionals, policymakers, and public health stakeholders to exchange knowledge and share strategies for strengthening diagnostics across Africa. Topics ranged from funding instability and leadership in laboratories to the integration of diagnostics and the detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Across the ten sessions, more than 2,800 participants tuned in, an average of 281 per session. Attendees primarily joined from LabCoP-supported countries, with many staying engaged for nearly the full duration of each session. This level of participation reflects the growing importance of peer learning in navigating today’s complex laboratory landscape.

Fig 1. Heat Map Showing number of participants who attended the 10 sessions by country

Several sessions focused on current challenges in foreign health assistance and the implications for national laboratory systems. Experts outlined how recent funding shifts, including the PEPFAR suspension in early 2025, have exposed vulnerabilities in health financing. The conversations emphasized the urgent need for African countries to strengthen domestic investment in laboratory systems, make programs more efficient, and treat foreign assistance as a supplementary rather than primary source of support. These sessions served as a timely call to action for policymakers to prioritize sustainable health security.

Fig 2. Screen Shot showing PEPFAR achievements prior to the Jan 2025 funding suspension

Another key highlight from the quarter was the April 30 session presenting ASLM’s Status Report on Laboratory Leadership in Africa. The findings underscored how governance and leadership are essential to delivering quality lab services and ensuring ethical, efficient resource use. Yet, these elements are often underrepresented in policy discussions. Encouragingly, several capacity-building initiatives are now underway to fill these gaps and support a new generation of lab leaders across the continent.

In response to the ongoing global threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis, LabCoP also launched a five-part TB Genomics series. Four sessions in this quarter explored how targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) is changing the game for early detection. Unlike conventional methods, tNGS can identify resistance to multiple drugs directly from patient samples, significantly reducing diagnostic delays.

A Slide from Anita Suresh’s presentation showing the TB use case
for tNGS vs WGS during the May TB ECHO session

The sessions examined policy frameworks, infrastructure needs, workforce development, and cost considerations. Country presentations from Eswatini and Mozambique offered powerful real-world insights particularly around the pressing need to detect emerging resistance to newer drugs like bedaquiline. Watch the sessions here.

A Slide from Dr Sofia’s presentation showing Bedaquiline in Focus
during the June TB ECHO session

The Monitoring & Evaluation Sub-Community of Practice (SubCoP) also held two sessions focused on strengthening laboratory surveillance for priority pathogens. One session, held on May 27, featured experiences from Burkina Faso and São Tomé, where teams are making measurable progress through data-driven planning and inclusive stakeholder engagement. Another discussion highlighted achievements from the Resolve to Save Lives project, which has improved sample transport, border surveillance, and the local testing capacity of public health labs. Watch this sessions here.

A Slide from Mr Lenli Lompo’s presentation showing the Improvement in COVID Diagnostic Capacity in Burkina Faso during the May LabCoP ECHO session

Across all sessions, one thing remained clear: the LabCoP platform continues to be a critical space for learning, collaboration, and practical problem-solving. From high-level strategy to technical know-how, these exchanges are helping shape a future where laboratory systems are more resilient, better led, and sustainably financed. As we look ahead to the next quarter—including the final session in the TB Genomics series—the LabCoP community remains committed to ensuring diagnostics are at the core of Africa’s health transformation.