The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) is driving major transformations in the country’s public health diagnostics through its landmarkTransitioning and Integrating L aboratory Services (TRAILS) project. This ambitious initiative is already reshaping laboratory systems nationwide and bolstering Zambia’s ability to respond effectively to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The TRAILS project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), Wits Health Consortium (WHC), and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

TRAILS Chief of Party Mr Powell Choonga, said “since its inception, the project has expanded its footprint to all ten provinces, reinforcing diagnostic services in both urban and rural areas.”

He said that TRAILS is designed to strengthen Zambia’s laboratory systems, ensuring their efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals aimed at controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“The primary goal of TRAILS is to build the capacity of the Ministry of Health to independently manage, finance, and sustain high-quality laboratory services essential for HIV diagnosis, care, treatment, and patient monitoring, thus enhancing public health outcomes in Zambia,” Mr Choonga said.

The project’s strength lies in its effective collaboration with local and international stakeholders. This collaborative model ensures alignment with national priorities, optimising resource allocation, and driving sustained improvements in laboratory services.

As Zambia continues its fight against HIV/AIDS and other public health challenges, CIDRZ’s leadership through TRAILS highlights the power of strategic partnerships, innovation, and local ownership in transforming laboratory services and healthcare delivery.