Monrovia, 24 May 2016 - The 2ndAnnual Celebration of Medical Laboratory Professionals’ week was successfully celebrated in Monrovia, Liberia 27- 28th April, 2016 under the theme “Think locally – link globally”. Events marking the celebration included panel discussions; concurrent workshops examining different thematic areas and exhibitions. This conference brought together local and international scientists to learn, network and discuss solutions that create basic building blocks in Liberia Laboratory system.

Participants at the conference were from Ministry of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Health Sector International Corporation; Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccines in Liberia (PREVAIL); Academic Consortium Combatting Ebola in Liberia(ACCEL); USAID/Investing for Business Expansion Project; Bolloré Africa Logistics and WHO.

The Mayor of Monrovia City Corporation, Mrs Clara Doe Mvogo, underscored the important role laboratory services play in the functionality of a health care delivery system. Dr. Philip Sahr, Director of National Reference Laboratory, on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Francis Kateh, in his key note address said, “I appreciate efforts by partners in building the competencies of the laboratory staff who will boost the laboratory capacities of the 15 counties”. He further indicated that the country has a national laboratory strategic plan and is proud to run five public health laboratories which are well equipped with the latest state of the art equipment and are fully staffed with Liberian nationals.  In conclusion, he expressed his gratitude to WHO for the continued partnership and support to strengthening laboratory services in the country. He then officially launched the Lab week conference. 

The first Scientific Panel discussion on the State of diagnostics in Liberia was moderated by Dr Alex Gasasira, WHO Representative for Liberia. He opened the discussion with a presentation on Laboratory Systems Strengthening efforts in Africa highlighting a broad and diverse perspective on improving diagnostics in Liberia. The panelists (Dr Stephen Kennedy, Principal Investigator of Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccine in Liberia; Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, USA Coordinator for Threat Reduction and Head of Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA); Mr Peter Boere, Industry Specialist, Health Sector International Finance Corporation and Dr Philip Sahr, Director of National Reference Laboratory) extensively deliberated on priority areas of the Liberian laboratory system; achievements registered so far, challenges and sustainability. The discussions also focused on Laboratory services in the global health security agenda; government policies that strengthen the diagnostics environment; tools used in laboratory systems strengthening; and partnerships in biosecurity and biosafety.

Important topics considered by the panels included: “The importance of Accreditation and Certification of Personnel and Institution”; “Information Systems and Logistics”; “A Glance into the GHSA in Africa”; “Laboratory System Strengthening”; “Biosafety and Biosecurity: Is Liberia Building or Establishing”; “Quality Control and Assurance (HIV/TB Focused)”; New Diagnostic Techniques: Principles of molecular technologies” and “Infectious Diseases and Microbes”. 

The events were actively supported by the Liberia WHO Lab team which included planning, selecting the scientific content of the conference and participating on panels. The conference was organized by AFRICABIO Enterprises Inc, and sponsored mainly by WHO. Other co-sponsors were: National Oil Company of Liberia, ExxonMobil, Fouta Corporation, Ford Prestige Motor Corporation, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Union Maritime Commerciale Corporation (UMARCO), John Snow Inc. Liberia Coca-Cola Bottling Company; MedAir Africa, and Nidus Analytical Services, LLC.

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For more information, please contact:

Technical:

Philomena Raftery: email %20philiraft [at] yahoo.com (philiraft[at]yahoo[dot]com )

Liliane Luwaga,  email  %20luwagal [at] who.int ( luwagal[at]who[dot]int)