Strengthening the provision of accessible and quality assured laboratory services in namibia through the namibia institute of pathology for sustained epidemic control of HIV and TB under pepfar -…

Strengthening the provision of accessible and quality assured laboratory services in namibia through the namibia institute of pathology for sustained epidemic control of HIV and TB under pepfar - CDC namibia through pepfar over the last 17 years supported the namibia institute of pathology (NIP) to strengthen the national laboratory system. Gaps however remain in the laboratory system, and the current covid-19 pandemic has magnified many of these deficiencies. These include: 1) a lack of a national specimen transport system to ensure specimen quality, 2) an outdated laboratory information system that lacks the ability to connect to the clinical system, 3) lack of a national unique identifier, 4) poor IT performance and support, 5) underutilized instrumentation for VL, TB and infant diagnosis, 6) a lack of optimized workflow at and between laboratories, and 7) a shortage of laboratory staff cadres.over the next five years, diagnostic network optimization (DNO) within the laboratory system will be the primary overarching activity since IT pinpoints deficiencies and strengthens the identified gaps remaining to reach sustained epidemic control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) in namibia, as well as responds to outbreak needs as they occur. Broadly, the strategies over the next five years will include:1. Expand coverage of testing capacity through diagnostic network optimization (DNO) for HIV and TB sustained epidemic control, 2. Develop national sample collection, transport, and logistic system, 3. Expand continuous quality management system program in all laboratories, 4. Enhance the national HIV and TB laboratory data and surveillance system. These strategies will enable the country to better track patients from one viral load (VL) to the next to ensure suppression rates are accurate for all patients on art, enhance and expand infant diagnosis to greater than the current 80% coverage, and ensure that all HIV patients that are dually infected with TB are diagnosed and treated.