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Laboratory medicine has contributed to slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the African continent. Laboratory medicine has always been misunderstood, undervalued and often overlooked. However, over the past two and a half years, the Covid-19 pandemic has been the catalyst for greater appreciation of medical biology and increased investment in this crucial component of Africa’s healthcare system. “The pandemic has driven increased investment in laboratory and medical diagnostic infrastructure and services globally and given the interests of laboratory medicine greater influence over important healthcare decisions. “, explains Cynthia Makarutse, program manager of the Africa Health 2022 conference scheduled for October 2022 in South Africa. “This increased importance followed the recognition that the novel coronavirus was airborne and could be spread by asymptomatic (or presymptomatic) carriers, and that diagnostic (or laboratory) testing was the only way sure to accurately detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 molecules,” notes Makarutse. The clinical laboratory industry in the Southern African Economic Community (SADC) is believed to be the fastest growing in the region and is now an attractive sphere offering abundant opportunities for market development and expansion. The laboratory medicine infrastructure in Africa, Ms. Makarutse believes, has proven vital in curbing the spread of the pandemic on the continent. Unsung heroes of the early stages of the Covid-19 outbreak, the continent’s clinical laboratory professionals have shown remarkable dedication, risking their lives and working tirelessly to monitor, track and test, indirectly contributing to saving lives. countless lives, not only in Africa but across the world, as the virus continued to spread to every corner of the planet. African medical laboratories have achieved this even in the face of other epidemic pathogens simultaneously hitting the continent, such as Ebola in the DRC, Lassa fever in Nigeria, as well as ongoing international efforts against measles and cholera. Fortunately, laboratories in most African countries were ready to test the virus before it reached their shores, and their health systems invested in medical laboratory infrastructure, steadily increasing testing capacity throughout the years. critical stages of the pandemic. So, while other health systems were quickly overwhelmed by Covid-19, most African countries managed to keep abreast of the development of the pandemic. “Clinicians, pathologists and laboratory workers across the continent are to be commended for their tremendous efforts to take advantage of the late arrival of the virus compared to most regions,” continues Cynthia Makarutse. , program manager of the Africa Health 2022 conference. Their contributions, combined with good infection control policies, proactive public health services and environmental or biological factors, have helped limit the impact of Covid -19 compared to the devastation observed in Asia and the European Union. “The institution of laboratory medicine and all its subfields (patient follow-up, epidemiological surveillance, clinical biochemistry, etiological diagnosis, hematology, etc.) have benefited from renewed interest during the pandemic, not only at the within the medical industry, but also from the general public,” observes Makarutse. She adds that the laboratory medicine conference organized within the framework of Africa Health 2022 will welcome Mrs. Rania Sharkawy, renowned professor and director of quality of clinical chemistry at the University of Alexandria. Professor Sharkawy will explore these topics in depth in his presentation on pathological anatomy and Covid-19, entitled ‘Covid-19 – a turning point in shaping the future of medical laboratories’, at the Medicine Conference of Africa Health 2022 laboratory. Other highly anticipated presentations from these sessions include that of Dr Jean Maritz entitled “The pitfalls of interpreting PCR test results for Covid-19” and that of Lesley Scott entitled “The ‘use of routine laboratory data to obtain relevant epidemiological information during a pandemic’. MedLab Africa, Africa Health’s partner exhibit, to be held at the Gallagher Convention Center in Johannesburg next October, marks a welcome return to face-to-face meetings following the pandemic-related hiatus. This event promises diverse laboratory medicine industry stakeholders and trade professionals (buyers, primary end users and manufacturers) an exciting new opportunity to connect and forge meaningful partnerships, as well as in-person presentations of the latest methodologies, technologies and products. For distributors in the field of laboratory medicine, MedLab 2022 offers a springboard to launch the latest breakthroughs and innovations to strengthen their competitive advantage in the very dynamic laboratory medicine market in Africa. Amid a flurry of exciting innovations sparked by the pandemic, Africa’s laboratory medicine sector has been revitalized and given a stronger voice. Medical biology professionals use advanced technologies and techniques to improve patient care and healthcare quality standards, to achieve universal public health goals on the continent and to improve healthcare systems.
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