Harare – In a major step in the direction of strengthening its public well being infrastructure, Zimbabwe established a devoted laboratory for the evaluation of polio samples collected by environmental surveillance (ES). Beforehand, these samples have been despatched to South Africa for testing, leading to a turnaround time of roughly 21 days.
With monetary and technical assist from the World Well being Group (WHO), the newly renovated laboratory is provided with state-of-the-art expertise testing tools and staffed by extremely educated personnel. WHO additional supplied coaching to 10 laboratory scientists to run the brand new laboratory and regionally perform environmental samples testing. This native functionality will considerably scale back the time required to detect and reply to potential outbreaks of polio.
Three consultants from the African Polio Laboratory community, proficient in WHO ES testing strategies for poliovirus, have been recognized by WHO Regional Officer for Africa (AFRO) to supply the coaching must th College of Zimbabwe (UZ) the place the laboratory is located. The staff contains Shelina Moonsamy because the Crew Lead (Head of Polio Laboratory, NICD, Johannesburg, South Africa), James Peter Eliku (ES Technical Skilled, Uganda Virus Analysis Institute, Entebbe, Uganda) and Thabo Mashupye (ES Technical Skilled, NICD).
“The institution of this laboratory is a significant milestone in our efforts to safeguard the well being of Zimbabweans,” mentioned Mr Paradzayi Chibukira, Technical Supervisor on the Zimbabwe Nationwide Virology Polio Laboratory at UZ. “By decreasing the turnaround time for laboratory outcomes, we are able to extra successfully implement prevention and management measures to forestall the reintroduction of polio into our nation.”
Environmental surveillance for polio is a essential part of worldwide efforts to observe and eradicate the polio. It entails gathering and analyzing sewage and different environmental samples to detect the presence of the poliovirus, which may point out circulation of the virus in the neighborhood. This technique enhances conventional surveillance by the Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance system and offers a broader view of potential outbreaks.
Polio is a extremely contagious viral illness that may trigger paralysis, particularly in kids. Whereas Zimbabwe has been polio-free for a few years, the chance of reintroduction stays, significantly as a result of ongoing international efforts to eradicate the illness.
With assist from WHO, Zimbabwe launched its environmental surveillance programme in 2023, starting with websites in Harare and Chitungwiza. This initiative was a part of a broader technique to strengthen illness monitoring and enhance response capabilities. The introduction of environmental surveillance in these preliminary websites marked a key step within the nation’s dedication to enhancing its public well being infrastructure. Extra websites have been established in different main cities, together with Bulawayo, Gweru, and Victoria Falls in 2024. This enlargement displays Zimbabwe’s proactive strategy to illness monitoring and its willpower to safeguard public well being.
“We applaud and totally assist Zimbabwe’s choice to arrange the laboratory for polio surveillance and this improvement not solely enhances the nation’s capability for well timed and correct detection of poliovirus within the atmosphere but in addition strengthens the general public well being infrastructure,” mentioned Mr Kenneth Chindedza, WHO Zimbabwe Technical Officer for Logistics and Provide Chain.