FIND and Ministry of Health Lesotho organize a seminar on laboratory strengthening
Dr. Ramatlapeng (center), flanked by Drs. Roscigno and Möller, respectively FIND CEO and FIND Chairman, with seminar participants and other FIND Board and team members.
The seminar on “Laboratory Strengthening in high TB-burden African Countries” held in Maseru, Lesotho, on 24th February 2010 was jointly organized by FIND and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Lesotho under the auspices of WHO.
This event was attended by laboratory and National TB Program representatives from Ethiopia, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. Representatives from key partner entities in the fight against TB, such as WHO, UNITAID, CDC, Partners in Health and the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs were also present, along with members of the FIND Board and team.
Contributions made during the seminar highlighted the need for national laboratory policies and integrated laboratory services and emphasized the importance in streamlining laboratory and clinical services as an integral part of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The seminar included an introductory session in the morning with visits to the National TB Reference Laboratory and the MDR-TB Hospital. The second session began in the afternoon and involved presentations and two panel discussions.