Are post-Ebola reconstruction efforts neglecting public health laboratory systems?
Authors: John N Nkengasong, Beth A Skaggs
Journal: The Lancet Global Health (2015)

David Evans and colleagues (August, 2015)1Evans DK Goldstein M Popova A Health-care worker mortality and the legacy of the Ebola epidemic.Lancet Glob Health. 2015; 3: e439-e440Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (132) Google Scholar modelled how the loss of health-care workers to Ebola virus disease (EVD) might have affected infant, under 5, and maternal mortality in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Unfortunately, laboratory workers were not included in the health-care worker definition used in their model. Laboratory workers are a central part of an effective health system. In the same issue, Ranu Dhillon and Robert Yates2Dhillon RS Yates R Building back better: priorities for Ebola-affected countries.Lancet Glob Health. 2015; 3: e435-e436Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (8) Google Scholar propose five priorities for Ebola-affected countries. These also did not include the need for an effective public health laboratory system. The Ebola epidemic repeatedly showed that delays in laboratory confirmation impeded control and prevention efforts. Without effective public health laboratory systems, public health responses will be delayed and global health security will be threatened. Strengthening public health laboratory systems should be a priority in the reconstruction and recovery efforts. On the basis of our experience in enhancing public health laboratory systems in partner countries through the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), we suggest that consideration should be given to the following approaches: (1)Development of an integrated national laboratory strategic plan and policy that provides governance and guidance on how best to align assets from vertical as well as horizontal programmes such as the Global Health Security Agenda. The plan could define quality-assured diagnostic tests and standards, and regulatory processes at each level of the health system.(2)Establishment of a community laboratory corps volunteer initiative. This initiative could be part of an overall strategy to surge the health-care workforce, as part of an effort to ensure access to diagnostic services in remote areas where outbreaks may occur. Such an effort exists currently in Thailand where about 750 000 village health volunteers are providing support to the national programme, with substantial success.3WHO Regional Office for South-East AsiaRole of village health volunteers in avian influenza surveillance in Thailand.http://apps.searo.who.int/PDS_DOCS/B0404.pdfGoogle Scholar Training should focus on best practices and standards for collecting, packaging, storage, and shipping of biological specimens to testing laboratories at regional or national levels. These health worker cadres should equally be trained on biosafety and quality standards in collecting and transporting biological specimens, as well as eHealth and information technology.(3)Exploration of novel approaches to specimen referral systems: the use of volunteer quality corps; hub and spokes; and unmanned aerial vehicles. Such vehicles are being used to transport tuberculosis specimens in Papua New Guinea, for example.4Médecins Sans FrontièresInnovating to fight tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea.http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/article/innovating-fight-tuberculosis-papua-new-guineaGoogle Scholar(4)Inclusion of a field laboratory training programme, similar to field epidemiology training programmes, to teach the leadership and management skills that are required to influence national policies.(5)The WHO Regional Office for Africa and the Africa Society for Laboratory Medicine could develop a scorecard to objectively evaluate the status of each country's laboratory network preparedness. A similar approach is currently underway in most African countries whereby a stepwise laboratory quality improvement process is being jointly implemented by these organisations.5Nkengasong JN Birx D Quality matters in strengthening global laboratory medicine.Afr J Lab Med. 2014; (published online Nov 3.)http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v3i2.239PubMed Google Scholar(6)A comprehensive phased approach to implementing quality management systems using evidence-based tools such as the Strengthening of Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation, could be supported and implemented in the affected countries.6Yao K Luman ET SLMTA Collaborating AuthorsEvidence from 617 laboratories in 47 countries for SLMTA-driven improvement in quality management systems.Afr J Lab Med. 2014; (published online Nov 3.)http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v3i2.262Google Scholar No country can be prepared for the next health threat without a functional national public health laboratory system and the post-Ebola reconstruction efforts provide a valuable opportunity to strengthen these systems. The first step is to recognise the essential role of the public health laboratory and prioritise funding and technical assistance to strengthen systems that have been neglected for years. The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represents the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We declare no competing interests.