Accreditation Increases access to Laboratory Services at Wakiso Health Center IV

“We offer quality, and our clients are excited, attaining international accreditation by SANAS transformed our service processes and improved our customer care approach. We are now connected to our customers than before the accreditation,” Alex Kakeeto, laboratory in charge, Wakiso health center IV. 

Laboratories are vital in disease diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and outbreak investigations. The Uganda health system has had significant improvements in the national laboratory system, with rapid advancements in modernized equipment and laboratory staffing. However, the laboratory network system still faces the daunting challenge of quality, especially at lower-level facilities. Located in the outskirts of Wakiso town, three kilometres from Wakiso district in central Uganda, Wakiso health center IV was established in 1980 by the ministry of health to offer comprehensive health care services to over 20,000 community members. Laboratory services were integrated into the center health care profile. With the increased number of clients, the laboratory infrastructure was remodelled in 2016 by Mildmay Uganda with funding from PEPFAR/CDC through Infectious Disease Institute (IDI). The remodelled structure has offered space for an expanded array of laboratory services at the facility. 

Under the partnership, Mildmay Uganda has supported training of the laboratory staff, provided logistics to support day to day operations, offered maintenance of the equipment and other accessories, and ensured that the laboratory attains International Accreditation. After, attaining a SLIPTA 4 star during an MoH assessment, we were ready for accreditation and applied for a SANAS audit which recommended our accreditation. 

Upon Accreditation, the laboratory can now offer quality diagnostic services to over 35000 people. These include 3300 clients that receive Antiretroviral services from the Wakiso health center IV. The laboratory facility is also a hub managing diagnostic services from 64 facilities through the efficient referral system that has been established at the facility. 

“Our quality of care has drastically increased since the accreditation. This has increased confidence among our clients. They access our services with a standard turn around time. They even come for confirmatory tests for results attained from other laboratories,” explains, Mary Immaculate, laboratory Assistant. 

In addition, the laboratory also offers placement opportunities to students from institutions of higher learning. This is attributed to the quality standards that are exhibited by the facility.