Laboratory Systems Strengthening (LSS)

The Laboratory Systems Strengthening project supports Zimbabwe’s HIV viral load and early infant diagnosis services under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The aim is to reduce morbidity and mortality across age, sex, and risk groups, including pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children, by closing gaps in access to quality-assured diagnostic services.

Aims

• Raise viral load and early infant diagnosis coverage, including point-of-care testing, from 64 percent toward 95 percent.
• Optimise and decentralise the laboratory information management system to all 15 viral load laboratories and all 56 laboratory hubs, so results are managed and reported on time.
• Optimise the integrated specimen transport system so access, coverage, and quality of care improve in all 63 districts.
• Strengthen the clinic–laboratory interface at 500 health facilities.

Work on the ground has included support for SADCAS accreditation at provincial laboratories, monitoring visits, specimen transport, laboratory information system training, collaborative clinic–laboratory learning sessions, and site mentorship.

Partners

The Ministry of Health and Child Care and CDC oversee implementation and provide technical assistance. BRTI also works with the Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).

Project team

• Dr Shungu Munyati, principal investigator. As Director General she oversees the institute’s research administration and capacity-building grants.
• Levi Vere, programme director, with long experience of PEPFAR-supported laboratory systems work in Zimbabwe.
• Goodridge Mguni, senior programme manager for the PEPFAR/CDC laboratory systems initiatives.
• Patience Musasa, programme manager, covering laboratory quality systems, mentorship, and the clinic–laboratory interface.
• Kidson Mataruka, clinical laboratory scientist in medical microbiology, supporting laboratory practice and mentorship.
• Innocent Mdlongwa, laboratory advisor for quality assurance, focused on ISO 15189 and accreditation.
• Mufaro Masamha, informatics specialist for laboratory information systems.
• Chiedza Mguni, laboratory management and public health, with more than ten years on PEPFAR-supported programmes.
• Dr Ronnie Matambo, TB and STI programme specialist.
• Trymore Murakwani, data analyst and strategic information, working on HIV epidemiology in the community, clinic, and laboratory.
• Wilson Mashange, monitoring and evaluation for infection prevention and control and laboratory system programmes.