Author/Authors :
Ansumana, Rashid School of Community Health Sciences - Njala University - Bo, Sierra Leone , Bah, Fatmata Kings Sierra Leone Partnership - King’s Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships - Freetown, Sierra Leone , Koker, Francess Kings Sierra Leone Partnership - King’s Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships - Freetown, Sierra Leone , Biao, Kan Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biological Safety Laboratory - Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Beijing, China , Koroma, Zikan Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biological Safety Laboratory - Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Beijing, China , Harding, Doris Public Health Laboratories - Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation - Freetown, Sierra Leone , Jalloh, Mohamed B. Department of Community Health - Faculty of Clinical Sciences - College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences - University of Sierra Leone - Freetown, Sierra Leone , Kelly, Ann H. Global Health and Social Medicine - Kings College London - London , United Kingdom , Momoh, Mambu School of Nursing and Medical Laboratory Sciences - Eastern Polytechnic - Kenema, Sierra Leone , Rogers, Mohamed H. College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences - University of Sierra Leone - Freetown, Sierra Leone , Rogers, James Laboratory Technical Working Group - Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation - Freetown, Sierra Leone , Street, Alice School of Social and Political Sciences - University of Edinburgh - Edinburgh, United Kingdom , Vernooij, Eva School of Social and Political Sciences - University of Edinburgh - Edinburgh, United Kingdom , Wurie, Isatta College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences - University of Sierra Leone - Freetown, Sierra Leone
Abstract :
The 2014–2016 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak highlighted the vital importance of investing in West Africa’s laboratory infrastructure and systems. In the absence of facilities capable of handling highly infectious pathogens, the national response across the region was hamstrung by costly delays in case identification and blind spots in epidemiological surveillance. The rapid development of EVD diagnostic tools that could speed up testing and be used at or near the point of care became a public health priority. To expedite their deployment, a series of cross-sectional research and development initiatives were launched including innovative financing mechanisms, data-sharing platforms, public-private partnerships and accelerated regulatory pathways ...
Keywords :
Building diagnostic systems , Sierra Leone , point-of-care devices , laboratory strengthening , Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
