Title
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EAC Regional Network of Public Health Reference Laboratories for Communicable Diseases (Mobile Laboratories Network)
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Vision
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An East African Community capable of rapidly diagnosing highly infectious diseases. |
Goal
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To strengthen diagnostic capacities of Partner States national public health reference laboratories to rapidly detect and respond to Communicable Diseases with potential for cross border outbreaks.
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Key Objectives
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Phase I: Strengthen laboratory capacities in all EAC Partner States to respond to pathogens of biosafety levels 3 and 4.
Phase II: Establish an EAC regional network of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and response.
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Implementation Period
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Start Date: 2017
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End Date: 2024
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Implementing Agencies and Development Partners
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- Project Executing Agency (PEA) - EAC Secretariat
- Financing Partner - German Development Bank (KfW)
- Implementing partners - Partner States' National Public Health Reference Laboratories
- Technical consultant - Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)
- Procurement Consultants - GOPA Infra (Phase I) and GFA (Phase II)
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Implementation Strategy
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- Procurement of fully equipped mobile laboratory units,
- Training of laboratory experts,
- Provision of technical assistance on laboratory diagnostics, and
- Harmonization of laboratory policies, guidelines & procedures
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Key Achievements
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- Procured and deployed nine (9) mobile laboratory units including 18 vehicles to the Partner States (phase I), additional procurement of six (6) mobile container laboratories is ongoing for antimicrobial resistance
- Trained about 250 pool of laboratory experts, biomedical engineers, drivers and ICT experts,
- Provided technical support during responses to disease outbreaks such as Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, dengue, Covid-19 etc, and
- Coordinated several regional policy dialogues through biannual meetings of the Expert Working Group (EWG) and Regional Steering Committee (RSC).
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Key Challenges
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- The expanding geography of the EAC region calls for more investment in laboratory diagnostic capabilities
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Key Recommendations
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- Develop a comprehensive strategy for resource mobilization and expansion of the EAC regional Network of public health reference laboratories.
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