Tanzania tables technical guidelines for laboratory services, efficiency in disease diagnosis

**DODOMA: **THE Tanzanian government, through the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office and CIHEB Tanzania under the Global Health Security programme, is continuing efforts to strengthen laboratory services across the country through the distribution of technical guidelines aimed at improving the quality, safety and efficiency of disease diagnostic services.

The initiative is intended to ensure that laboratory professionals have access to the documents and guidelines they need to perform their duties in accordance with established professional standards and procedures.

Speaking on August 28 during a working session on the distribution of guidelines for improving laboratory services in Dodoma, Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Eliakim said proper use of the guidelines would contribute to improving diagnostic services and enhancing the safety of laboratory personnel.

Dr Eliakim said it was important to ensure that the guidelines reach health workers at service delivery points and are properly implemented to support accurate test results and enable health professionals to make appropriate clinical decisions.

“It is important to ensure that the guidelines reach health workers and are properly used at service delivery points, because quality laboratory services play a major role in obtaining accurate diagnostic results and helping health professionals make appropriate clinical decisions,” Dr Eliakim said.

He said proper implementation of the guidelines would increase health workers’ understanding of service delivery procedures, while strengthening the safety of laboratory personnel and improving the efficiency of services provided to the public.

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Meanwhile, the Head of Laboratory Services at the Ministry of Health, Reuben Mkala, said the distribution of the guidelines would ensure that health workers at different levels have access to the documents and can use them as references in carrying out their daily responsibilities.

He said the initiative would also help ensure that laboratory personnel adhere to established procedures and standards in the delivery of laboratory services.

For his part, CIHEB Tanzania representative Jacob Lusekelo said the distribution of the documents was important in ensuring that health workers have reliable reference materials to guide them in carrying out their duties, particularly in diagnostic services that require accuracy, safety and compliance with professional standards.

Lusekelo said the documents being distributed include the National Essential Diagnostic List, guidelines on the protection and safety of laboratory workers, and other documents aimed at strengthening laboratory service systems in the country.

He said the availability and proper use of the documents would help improve laboratory service delivery and strengthen the capacity of the health system to provide quality, safe and efficient diagnostic services.

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