By Kudakwashe Pembere
Over 50 laboratory services personnel from lab scientists to bike riders carrying samples were Thursday conferred awards in recognition for their services at the inaugural National Laboratory Awards.
Officiating the event was the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe (MLCSCZ) chair Mr Ranganai Mubvumbi who commended the organizers, the Ministry of Health and Child Care Laboratory Services, for honoring these cadres.
“This event aims to recognize MoHCC laboratories and personnel outstanding contributions and achievements in disease outbreaks, surveillance, diagnostics.
“It has never happened in the history of laboratory services, and I would like to congratulate the Director Laboratory Services for this innovation of thanking the men and women who are the foot soldiers of laboratory services,” he said.
Fifty-eight people received awards in various categories.
“Ministry of Health laboratory services will be giving awards to 12 categories. In each category, three positions, and 18 high-performance laboratory services laboratory services managers and personnel will be recognized or awarded,” Mr Mubvumbi said.
Mr Mubvumbi also noted the importance of diagnosis in the health sector for improved patient outcome and disease surveillance.
“Accurate and reliable diagnosis is the cornerstone of disease detection, management, and prevention. As such, medical laboratories are indispensable as they provide diagnostic services that are critical to individual case management but also to disease surveillance and control. It is therefore well deserving to recognize and reward these laboratory roles in this way,” he said.
Dr. Kiren Mitruka, CDC Zimbabwe Country Director said they helped the country in setting up a Laboratory Information Management System.
“CDC in Zimbabwe, with funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has partnered with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to provide support to the national laboratory program since 2004. Arriving recently in Zimbabwe as the CDC Country Director, I quickly realized the tremendous accomplishments of the laboratory program.
“For instance, the Ministry of Health and Child Care in collaboration with CDC, has developed and installed the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) in 71 laboratories across Zimbabwe. This system helps manage patient samples and test results, improving efficiency, accountability, and data management.
“Enhanced lab capacity allows over 1 million viral load and early infant diagnosis tests to be performed in these labs, facilitating improved clinical outcomes,” she said.
Director Laboratory Services at the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Raiva Simbi lauded the awardees for their innovation and dedication.
“We are recognizing the Apex National Reference Laboratories for leading in the disease outbreak response and surveillance of COVID-19, cholera, influenza, HIV, sexually transmitted infections, antimicrobial resistant testing, TB, and malaria.
“They achieve this through fostering innovation and adoption of new technologies and methodologies, facilitating information exchange, collaboration, and networking among laboratories, supporting research and development initiatives to address emerging public health challenges.
“We thank them and are very proud of the APEX laboratories. The sub-national, provincial and district laboratories have always been up to the task tasks of cascading innovations and new technologies like point-of-care testing, rapid HIV testing, to more than 1,700 point-of-care testing sites,” he said.
National Microbiology Reference Lab (NMRL) coordinator Dr Agnes Juru said the recognition of lab services personnel under government employ was critical in boosting their morale.
“Laboratory services have grown from strength to strength over the past years, documenting several success stories and great initiatives that have been commended by multiple stakeholders across the globe
Today we are gathered to celebrate these achievements and the champions behind all that success, we salute you guys. This is coming at a time where we are celebrating the country’s achievements and the recent appointment as SADC chair, ladies and gentlemen I’m proud to say as lab services we are walking in the country’s vision and mantra of excellence.
I would like to commend this great initiative of recognising and rewarding best performers within the department, it goes a long way in motivating staff and improving morale.
