Current trends

The strategy currently defined for this “laboratory” thematic cluster revolves around 5 complementary areas of work, each including several non-exhaustive activities:

Strengthening synergies between different laboratories (national and regional)

Planned activities

  • development of quality control programs
  • regional laboratory program for monitoring antibiotic resistance among enterobacteria in community settings
  • improved dispatch of biological samples
  • regional experience-sharing workshops
  • pre-positioning of rapid diagnostic tests in member states for certain diseases (dengue fever, foot-and-mouth disease)
Improving diagnostic capabilities for priority diseases

This mainly concerns the strengthening of technical platforms in Member States.
Several acquisitions of laboratory equipment and reagents have been underway since 2020, benefiting Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles.
These acquisitions will continue, including PCR platforms, sequencing devices, training courses and various reagents.

Continuity of laboratory services for surveillance and response

Planned activities

  • implementation of renewable energy
  • internet and telephone subscriptions in anticipation of the implementation of the computerized data management system, and to facilitate the connection of laboratories to the overall surveillance system.
  • support for meetings and laboratory supervision missions
  • provision of equipment/reagents for transporting biological samples
Implementation/reinforcement of international standards in terms of quality, safety and waste management at laboratory level

Planned activities

  • support for the implementation/improvement of international quality, waste management and safety standards via training missions and workshops.
  • development of standard operating procedures and tools adapted to the context of each country.
  • regional exchanges encouraged
  • support, exchange and accompaniment missions
Collaboration between the laboratory network and other thematic clusters of excellence

The laboratory component is always involved, whether in epidemiological surveillance and response, vector risk management or border surveillance.
UVS facilitates connections between players in these different disciplines.
This is achieved through training courses, exchange workshops and operational research activities.

ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN THE SEGA – ONE HEALTH NETWORK

  • Assessment of human health laboratories
  • Equipment and training with varied results: molecular biology laboratory in the Seychelles, Candos laboratory, Comoros laboratory, Madagascar laboratory
  • Network activities: training and hosting on La Réunion and at the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar
  • Regional IATA training for sample transport.
    The majority of current IATA-certified personnel are those who have completed this training.
  • Continued support: El Maarouf, HJRB Mada Hospital, kits for Mauritius
  • Launch of Arbovirosis External Quality Control with all its benefits.
    An oral presentation on the results was given at an international congress.
  • Launch of regional public health surveillance of antibiotic resistance (bacteriology laboratory network)
  • Technology assessment (scalable database of existing tests): FETP
  • Mobile laboratory with the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar (IPM) mobilized during the plague epidemic.
  • Lab-investigation link
  • Regional, networked training: advanced bacteriology (IPM), 2 bacteriology training courses in the Comoros by an expert from Mauritius, implementation of Zika diagnostics in the Seychelles by an IPM expert, sharing of Zika-positive controls by the CHU de La Réunion with other laboratories (IPM, Mauritius).
  • Updated needs assessment for human health laboratories, and inclusion of animal health laboratories in the assessment
  • Study of the problem of sending samples
  • Continuation of the network of antibiotic resistance bacteriology laboratories
  • Covid-19 response with diagnostic capabilities component: PCR, technical exchanges through the IOC CDC-OH-IO

Examples of best practice

  • External quality control program for arbovirosis diagnosis:

    • strengthening links between molecular biology laboratories
    • mutual trust in the analyses performed by the various laboratories
    • identification of areas for improvement for participating laboratories
    • expansion of laboratory expertise through the gradual introduction of new pathogens

  • Mobilizing an expert from Mauritius for training in Comoros An example of experience and knowledge sharing between Member States.

  • Setting up Zika diagnostics at regional level (sharing of positive controls, training):

    • reagent exchanges
    • skills transfer (driven by the CDC-OH-IO)

  • Regional IATA training:

    • certification of the majority of IATA-certified personnel currently working in Member States’ Ministries of Health, and therefore authorized to carry out the various operations involved in the shipment of biological samples.

  • Partnership with the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar:

    • mobile laboratory
    • regional training in advanced bacteriology