On the way to a laboratory of medical analyzes more efficient in rural areas of the DR Congo.
Preamble
Most medical laboratories, especially those in rural areas, perform poorly. Yet, medical analysis laboratory services, like other health delivery services, are important in therapeutic decision-making and epidemiological surveillance. Among the reasons for this poor performance are the lack of adequate laboratory infrastructure, the unavailability / inadequacy of materials and inputs, the inadequate level of skills of the technical staff, the lack of supervision and continuing training, and above all the Lack of supervision. As a result, patients are often the victim of poor treatment, leading to drug wastage and sometimes even unreliable monitoring data.
Integrated capacity-building is therefore necessary and therefore remains a major challenge.
What is INRB’s commitment to the capacity-building process of laboratories
The National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB / Kinshasa) as a national reference laboratory, has committed itself through the Institutional Reinforcement Project for Health Policies based on the Evidence “RIPSEC” to participate in the improvement of capacities Laboratory. Its know-how will enable it to accompany these laboratories in the perspective of universal coverage of healthcare.
Initial laboratory analysis and identification of deviations
For INRB, the first action to be taken is to carry out an analysis of the initial situation of laboratories in order to identify their local medical analysis capacities, their weaknesses and to identify the needs for their reinforcements in order to That they best respond to the rationalization of the provision of care.
RIPSEC / INRB team on a working visit to the laboratory of HGR Gombe Matadi
A first evaluation mission conducted between 05 and 26 July 2016 by the RIPSEC / INRB team in the Zones of Gombe Matadi, Walungu and Kisanga identified the following gaps: poorly adapted infrastructures; Inadequate staff, often poorly trained and almost unsupervised; Inadequate and sometimes inoperable equipment in some laboratories; A low level of biosafety and a low technical level.
Some solutions
Some proposals for the development of these laboratories and meeting the specific needs of each laboratory have been identified. These include regular supervision, external quality assessment and training of technical staff of laboratories.
Supervision (supervisory training) is a starting point for the INRB in this process of capacity building.
Future prospects
Continue to ensure the technical supervision of the laboratories to make them more effective both for clinical diagnosis and for epidemiological surveillance, without forgetting other reinforcement activities.
Sylvie Linsuke
This post is also available in: Français (French)
