Zanzibar develops referral system for storage, transportation of laboratory samples
ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar Ministry of Health is developing a Laboratory Sample Referral and Transport System to strengthen the collection, storage and transportation of laboratory samples from health facilities across Unguja and Pemba.
Director General of the Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Dr Mariyam Seif Hemed, said the development of the system was an important step towards improving laboratory services and ensuring that samples reach testing facilities safely and on time.
Dr Mariyam made the remarks during a workshop to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Laboratory Sample Referral and Transport System.
She said laboratories play a critical role in healthcare delivery because accurate test results enable health professionals to make informed decisions on patient treatment and disease control.
With the emergence of new diseases and the resurgence of some previously controlled diseases globally, Dr Mariyam said Zanzibar needs a robust system for disease diagnosis and surveillance.
She commended the Zanzibar Government, through the Ministry of Health, for measures being implemented to strengthen laboratory services and expand the capacity to detect and monitor diseases.
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Dr Mariyam said Zanzibar has continued to expand its network of health facilities providing laboratory services across Unguja and Pemba, with sample transportation systems already being used in various health programmes, including tuberculosis, HIV, malaria and immunisation.
For her part, Pandemic Fund Senior Coordinator at Jhpiego, Asha Ussi, said increased global movement of people has made it easier for diseases to cross borders, making it essential for countries to strengthen their preparedness to detect outbreaks early and take timely measures before they spread and affect communities.
Meanwhile, Head of the Diagnostic Services Division at the Ministry of Health, Abdalla Said Mohd, said the Ministry was committed to ensuring that samples collected from health facilities are transported and tested on time.
He said the Ministry continues to collaborate with various organisations, including CIHEB and Tanzania Posts Corporation, to ensure samples reach designated testing facilities promptly and that results are made available as quickly as possible.
The workshop brought together experts from the Ministry of Health, the Zanzibar Health Services Fund (ZHSF), the livestock sector, representatives from Pemba and other technical specialists.
The initiative is expected to improve the efficiency of Zanzibar’s laboratory referral network and strengthen disease surveillance by reducing delays between sample collection, transportation and testing.
