Dar es Salaam: The Nationwide Public Well being Laboratory (NPHL) in Dar es Salaam has been formally designated as a World Well being Group (WHO) HIVResNet Nationwide Laboratory for HIV Drug Resistance (HIVDR) testing for 2025. This designation locations Tanzania on the forefront of worldwide efforts to observe and reply to HIV drug resistance, a essential element within the combat to finish the AIDS epidemic.
The designation follows NPHL’s profitable demonstration of technical proficiency in genotyping HIV-1 protease, reverse transcriptase, and integrase genes from plasma specimens utilizing the ThermoFisher industrial equipment. This achievement confirms the laboratory’s capability to generate high-quality, correct knowledge in keeping with worldwide requirements set by WHO’s HIV Drug Resistance Community (HIVResNet).
“This recognition is a serious milestone for Tanzania and a testomony to the dedication and technical excellence of our laboratory professionals,” Dr. Jean de Dieu Iragena, “It reaffirms our nationwide management in HIV surveillance and strengthens our contribution to world public well being.”
The WHO HIVResNet designation helps a worldwide technique for HIVDR surveillance, developed to make sure antiretroviral remedy stays efficient and sustainable within the face of rising drug resistance. NPHL’s inclusion on this community will play an important position in producing sturdy, actionable knowledge to tell nationwide remedy insurance policies and optimize affected person outcomes.
“We’re honored to obtain this designation,” Dr. Nyambura Moremi. “It underscores the tireless work of our crew and enhances our capability to assist evidence-based choices in HIV care and remedy in Tanzania. This isn’t only a win for us, however for the hundreds of lives we serve.”
As a chosen HIVResNet laboratory, NPHL will proceed to take part in WHO’s annual proficiency testing and should preserve its excessive requirements to stay within the community in future years. WHO has emphasised the significance of notifying the group of any vital adjustments to the lab’s infrastructure or management, guaranteeing sustained excellence.
“The designation of NPHL is a powerful endorsement of the laboratory’s functionality and dedication to public well being,” stated, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, Nation Consultant of WHO “We commend Tanzania’s efforts to combine high quality HIVDR surveillance into its nationwide well being technique and stay up for continued collaboration.”
This growth represents one other daring step in Tanzania’s dedication to ending AIDS as a public well being menace by 2030, and in guaranteeing that nobody is left behind within the entry to protected, efficient, and sustainable HIV remedy