Disease control: Kadaga calls for laboratory training investment

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, has called for increased investment in training local medical laboratory staff to strengthen Africa’s disease control systems.

Speaking at the launch of the Regional Integrated Laboratory Systems Strengthening Project (RILSS) on October 4, 2024, at the health ministry’s National Laboratory and Diagnostic Services in Butabika, Kampala, Kadaga stressed the need for governments to prioritise the establishment of local laboratory centres of excellence.

She emphasized the importance of bringing diagnostic services closer to the people, which would enhance healthcare delivery.

"How long does it take to get a result from Angola? How much time does it take to send a sample here?" Kadaga said, urging governments to focus on developing in-country facilities to avoid delays in diagnostics.

Kadaga also highlighted the lack of trained laboratory technicians in many African countries, calling for proper planning and funding to support the necessary workforce.

She also addressed the issue of diagnostic kit shortages, saying, "The Government should take it as seriously. There should not be an issue of saying we have a shortage".

Rebecca Kadaga (left) First Deputy Prime Minister arrives with Margaret Muhanga (center), the state minister for Primary Health Care, with Susan Nabadda (Right), the commissioner National Health Laboratory Services, at the launch of the integrated laboratory systems project in Butabika on October 4, 2024. (Photo by Nicholas Oneal)

Increase funding

Commissioner for National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services, Dr Suzan Nabadda Ndidde, echoed Kadaga’s sentiments, urging political leaders and development partners to increase funding to strengthen Africa’s diagnostic capacity.

She noted that, while Africa has "the highest disease burden in the world," it also has "the lowest diagnostic capacity."

Nabadda pointed out that many African countries lack the infrastructure to properly diagnose diseases like cancer and antimicrobial resistance. Many patients are referred outside the continent for care due to limited diagnostic capabilities. 

"Cancers are diagnosed late because of the low capacities. We need better surveillance systems and access to diagnostic kits" she added.

Despite the launch of the RILSS project, which has received sh18b in funding, Nabadda noted that this amount is only "a drop in the ocean" compared to the billions of dollars needed to optimise laboratory operations across Africa.

Uganda, despite its limitations, was chosen to lead the project due to its experience with frequent disease outbreaks.

"As Uganda, we still have lots of needs," Nabadda said, but added that the country is committed to sharing its expertise with others on the continent.

Strengthening regional collaborations

Sibusiso Sibandze, director general of the East Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration in strengthening laboratory systems.

He pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic and other outbreaks like Ebola have highlighted the critical role laboratories play in public health.

He pointed out that many countries are at different stages of strengthening their laboratory systems, but the challenges remain the same across the region, which is why such a project is vital.

"The problems are common across the region. Hence, that’s why we have such a project,” he said. The project aims to address limited laboratory and diagnostic capacity, a significant barrier to achieving global health targets.

Sibandze outlined the key objectives of the three-year project, including building capacity for antimicrobial resistance, strengthening pandemic preparedness, and enhancing quality management systems.

“The regional collaboration will ensure that we can not only detect but also respond to diseases with pandemic potential in real time,” Sibandze said.

About RILSS project

The RILSS project aims to enhance diagnostic capacity across 21 countries, focusing on infectious diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and Ebola. Supported by partners like the Global Fund, the sh18b project is expected to build capacity in disease diagnosis, pandemic preparedness, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance over the next three years.