West African Health Organization and African Society for Laboratory Medicine Join Forces to Strengthen Laboratory Quality Management Systems in the ECOWAS Region

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 6 March 2024 – The West African Health Organization (WAHO) and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) have entered into a second cooperation agreement, supported by funding from the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank, to enhance the implementation and improvement of quality management systems (QMS) in laboratories across 15 countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This initiative is part of the broader ‘West Africa Epidemiological Surveillance and Laboratory Systems Strengthening Project’ (PROALAB), which focuses on strengthening the regional and national networks of reference laboratories in ECOWAS countries. This collaboration has a total funding level of €210 210. To support the implementation of the project, ASLM has matched a 5% contribution.

Under the PROALAB project’s second phase, ASLM will play a crucial role in providing technical assistance to improve the implementation of QMS in laboratories, with the ultimate goal of achieving international accreditation.

Key activities outlined in the agreement include:

  1. Assessing the current status of QMS implementation and the level of improvement in previously supported laboratories
  2. Conducting audits using the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) checklist in 3-star to 5-star level laboratories
  3. Overseeing and monitoring the support provided by WAHO mentors/coaches, advising them on improvements, and guiding them on better QMS implementation strategies
  4. Training laboratory professionals on the new version of ISO 15189:2022, risk assessment, and other identified gaps post SLIPTA audits, as well as certifying SLIPTA and internal auditors in West Africa
  5. Conducting management and leadership training for senior management staff
  6. Providing technical guidance to laboratories in the development of quality documents based on ISO 15189:2022 or ISO/IEC 17025:2017, as appropriate
  7. Building capacity to effectively and efficiently implement and continuously improve the QMS
  8. Encouraging laboratories and senior management to increase commitment and effectively utilise available resources to support the implementation of the QMS
  9. Advocating at the ministry of health level to aspire to accreditation of reference laboratories and contributing to capacity building in the country

This collaboration marks a significant step towards enhancing the quality of laboratory services in the ECOWAS region, ensuring that these laboratories meet international standards. The funding from KfW Development Bank, as facilitated by the Federal Republic of Germany, underscores the commitment to supporting health development in West Africa.

Both WAHO and ASLM are confident that this partnership will contribute to the overall improvement of the health status of the region’s populations, aligning with the organizations’ missions to advance healthcare and promote well-being in West Africa.

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Background

In 2018, West African Health Organization (WAHO) and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) established collaboration to implement quality management systems in 15 regional and national reference laboratories in 15 ECOWAS member states. The collaboration has contributed to workforce development: 24 laboratory professionals were trained as SLIPTA auditors, 27 were trained on QMS mentorship and coaching, 20 were trained on internal auditing based on ISO 15189 and ISO/IEC 17025; and 48 were trained on the new ISO 15189:2022 standards. All enrolled laboratories have implemented QMS and improved from the 0-stars to 1-star level to the 3-stars to 5-stars level. Three laboratories, in Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria, have achieved ISO accreditation.

About ASLM

The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) is an independent, international, non-profit organisation that coordinates, galvanises and mobilises relevant stakeholders at local, national and international levels to improve local access to world-class diagnostic services and ensure the health of African communities now and in the long term. ASLM is the first pan-African society for laboratory professionals, endorsed by the African Union (AU) and supported by several African Ministers of Health through its Ministerial Call to Action.

About WAHO

West African Health Organization (WAHO) implements actions to ensure health development in the West African region and an improvement in the health status of the region’s populations.

To learn more, visit, https://aslm.org/ and  https://www.wahooas.org/web-ooas/en

For media inquiries, please contact: Nelly Rwenji-Senior Brand and Communications Manager (ASLM); nrwenji@aslm.org

Oliver Manigart  Olivier.manigart@gfa-group.de; Chinelo.ebruke@gfa-group.de; isombie@wahooas.org