Solina in partnership with Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) is currently providing technical assistance to the directorates of laboratories of Chad, Congo, Gambia and Guinea to strengthen laboratory systems and improve patient outcomes. Funded by the Global Fund, the Scaling-up Testing and Strengthening Lab Systems (Project STELLAR) is supporting twenty-three (23) African countries to maximize the impact of C19RM resources to rapidly scale up laboratory testing, and galvanise longer-term strengthening of laboratory systems.
Collaborating closely with the Directorate of Chad, the Solina STELLAR team set the pace for improved coordination of lab activities in the first quarter of 2023. We systematically compiled and reviewed National Laboratory Strategic Plans (NLSP), National Laboratory Policies (NLPs), and pertinent country documents. We supported the establishment of a Technical Working Group (TWG) dedicated to updating and reviewing the country documents, ensuring the sustainability of provided TA support.
In June 2023, Solina conducted a thorough assessment of 16 sites in Pointe Noire and Brazzaville, playing a key role in supporting the GC7 grant-making process. This assessment likely facilitated the identification of critical needs, gaps, and opportunities, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the grant allocation and ultimately contributing to improved healthcare outcomes in the respective regions.
Solina achieved a significant milestone in August 2023 by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the GeneXpert usage rate across 48 sites in 21 regions. This analysis, based on facility records collected between 2021 to 2023, provided crucial insights into the performance and utilization of GeneXpert technology, contributing to informed decision-making in healthcare delivery.
Additionally, in October 2023, Solina trained 25 laboratory staff on LabBook Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) in Chad, supporting the digitalization of the data management system. Following this, in November 2023, we trained 56 laboratory staff and 10 support staff on Biosafety/Biosecurity, succeeding a Biorisk/Biosecurity assessment conducted from May to June 2023 across 27 health facilities in the Gambia further contributing to the enhancement of healthcare practices and ensuring a safer and more efficient working environment.
