Improving diagnostics and surveillance
The Mérieux Foundation has been supporting Togo since 2012, strengthening its diagnostic capacity through several initiatives.
The country joined RESAOLAB, the West African Network of Medical Biology Laboratories, in 2013. RESAOLAB was launched by the Foundation in 2009 in collaboration with the health ministries of its member countries. The program aims to strengthen the structure of laboratory systems by reinforcing governance and training, and setting up surveillance and a robust quality management system. In Togo, this involves regular technical support, including the implementation of a national external quality assessment program and the organization of maintenance supervision, contributing to the continuous improvement of quality management. The network also helps to develop the skills of Togolese laboratory professionals by awarding grants to enable them to follow a continuing education program we have set up in Mali.
Complementing this, the Mérieux Foundation coordinates its actions in Togo on the basis of a “One Health” approach, contributing its expertise in human health in particular. It helps local healthcare players to strengthen their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance activities using a batch sampling methodology tailored to the local situation, while developing national skills in epidemiology and applied research.
