Health ministry awards best labs

HEALTH

The health ministry has awarded certificates to six health facilities whose laboratories registered both good and improved performance in biosafety biosecurity measures, countrywide.

The facilities that scored above 60%, an indication of good performance, included high volume laboratories, hubs and gene expert sites for Tuberculosis screening.

They include; Hoima (93%), Jinja (87%) and Moroto (68%) Regional Referral Hospitals, Kyenjojo General Hospital (82%), Buliisa Health Centre IV (68%) and Buseruka Health Centre III in Kikuube district (68%).

 "Laboratory services play a critical role in disease prevention, adding that effective surveillance lab systems help detect diseases early, thereby preventing massive outbreaks and in the case of outbreaks, to facilitate effective management," said Health Minister Dr. Jane Aceng.

Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng launching the dissemination of lab policy at the ministry headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday April 3, 2019. Looking on is health ministry permanent secretary Diana Atwine (centre), commissioner of national health laboratory and diagnostics services Dr Susan Nabadda (left) and principal lab technologist Patrick Ogwok. (Photo by Timothy Murungi)

She made the above remarks during the launch of the official dissemination of laboratory strategic policy documents and guidelines at the ministry headquarters on Wednesday.

 The launch of the policy documents and guidelines according to Aceng, is meant to facilitate effective lab service delivery to the national health care system.

Some of the strategies under the new policy indicate that all laboratory professionals shall be registered and licensed by the professional council and equipment routinely monitored and maintained according to manufacturer's requirements and national protocols.  

 Hoima Regional Referral Hospital administrator, Dr. Peter Mokobi (third-right) receiving the certificate of excellence for the hospital lab services during the dissemination of lab policy on Wednesday April 3, 2019  at the ministry headquarters in Kampala. (Photo by Timothy Murungi)

The policy also indicates that all laboratories shall be committed to sharing data in order to support a multi-sectoral approach of managing public health threats and that all lab staff shall treat clients with respect and shall safeguard confidentiality and privacy according to the National Patient charter.

Dr. Susan Nabadda, the acting commissioner National Health Laboratory Services, warned private health facilities against opening laboratories that are not accredited by the Allied Health Professionals Council and the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council.