The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with development partners like the CDC, unveiled the National Public Health Mandate and a series of essential guidelines at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health Auditorium on August 9, 2024.
The launch focused on pivotal documents including the National Public Health Laboratory Network Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and the Ghana Laboratory Quality Management Systems Checklist.
The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) expressed strong support for the new guidelines. Dr. Abu Abudu Rahamani, President of GAMLS, praised the Minister of Health for his leadership. “We are grateful for the Minister’s vision and dedication to improving healthcare delivery in Ghana,” Rahamani stated. He emphasized the importance of the guidelines in enhancing laboratory services and improving disease surveillance.
The newly launched documents aim to fortify Ghana’s public health infrastructure, focusing on disease surveillance, epidemic response, and laboratory quality. The Minister of Health highlighted the critical role of laboratory networks during the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed the need for system strengthening. “We recognize the need for system strengthening, including the medical laboratory sector, which has been instrumental in our response to public health threats,” he noted.
Dr. Ignatius Awinibuno, Director of Allied Health, underscored the importance of collaboration with development partners to implement these guidelines effectively. “The effective implementation of these documents requires the collective effort of all stakeholders,” Awinibuno said, calling for both technical and financial support to enhance public health laboratories.
Dr. Rahamani assured the Ministry of GAMLS’s commitment to the successful implementation of the new framework. “We are committed to working closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure the successful implementation of these documents,” he said. The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists is prepared to contribute its expertise to achieve improved healthcare outcomes for Ghana’s citizens.
Source: Dr. Solomon Kwashie, General Secretary Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists.
