CIDRZ, through the Transitioning and Integrating Laboratory Services (TRAILS) project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), recently supported a five-day HIV Rapid Testing Continuous Quality Improvement (RTCQI) Programme annual planning and review meeting. The initiative aimed to strengthen laboratory services, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure the sustainability of testing initiatives nationwide.

Ministry of Health Assistant Director of Pathology and Laboratory Services, Mr Mweemba Muvwimi, expressed his appreciation for the annual review meeting.

“The objectives of this meeting were clear and ambitious,” he said. “We focused on reviewing progress, assessing achievements against set targets, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of HIV testing services.”

Mr Muvwimi said that the RTCQI programme primarily targeted HIV and syphilis testing, with plans to extend it to hepatitis B in the near future.

He highlighted Africa’s evolving approach to addressing multiple infectious diseases, noting that innovative testing kits capable of screening for several conditions simultaneously are already in development.

Meanwhile, CIDRZ TRAILS Project Chief of Party, Mr Powell Choonga, acknowledged the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for their ongoing support in strengthening Zambia’s laboratory system and commended the Ministry of Health for its leadership and collaboration.

“This programme brought together provincial biomedical scientists, RTCQI focal point persons, and partner representatives from all ten provinces, to share best practices, review progress, and strengthen the quality and sustainability of HIV testing services across Zambia,” Mr Choonga said.

He further emphasised the importance of scaling up local production of quality assurance panels beyond HIV to cover all laboratory tests.

“Producing these panels locally could save Zambia approximately $230,000 annually in commercial external quality assessment costs,” he noted.

During the RTCQI programme, participants reviewed progress, evaluated achievements, and explored strategies to enhance services while promoting the domestication of resources to ensure continuous testing and service delivery.