Members of RESAMAD, university hospitals (CHU), regional reference hospitals (CHRR), district reference hospitals (CHRD), teams from MSANP and SALAMA, and potential technical and financial partners including MTaPS and PSI Stellar (USAID) took part in dynamic plenary sessions and working groups, which were enriched by presentations and question-and-answer sessions. The workshop proved once again that collaboration and skill sharing are the key to making progress towards a more robust and high-quality health system in Madagascar.
The ambition of the workshop was clear – to strengthen and add value to the capacities of laboratories in the RESAMAD network. With specific objectives such as expanding support from technical and financial partners, reinforcing working subgroups and implementing a high-quality management system, RESAMAD has highlighted its commitment to achieving operational excellence.
The presentations and practical sessions were delivered by healthcare experts. Dr. Christian Rafalimanana, President of RESAMAD, underlined the importance of the network and the progress made in the laboratory system in Madagascar.
Two sessions were devoted to RESAMAD’s place in the laboratory system. They allowed participants to familiarize themselves with the reference documents presented by Dr. Christian Rafalimanana and the representative from the Laboratories Department (SLAB): The national strategic plan for laboratories, the standards and regulations document, the list of essential exams, the guide to supplies and the guide to stock management. The organization of the network itself to achieve more efficiency was also a subject of discussion.
Christine Tournaire’s study on a “Comparative assessment of the benefits of an autonomous laboratory management system” demonstrated the significant benefits of such a system in recovering costs by reducing procurement lead times and minimizing stock shortages. Presentations of projects such as TSARA (an updated AMR surveillance technique) also demonstrated the role of work with which the network is closely associated.
There was a special emphasis on continuing training, with in-depth sessions on biochemistry, hematology, bacteriology and parasitology, illustrating RESAMAD’s commitment to continuing education and bringing the skills of network members’ laboratory staff up to date.
Dr. Heritiana Randrianary, head of the laboratory department at the Morondava regional reference hospital, said “This 14th edition was marked by the richness and originality of the themes that were covered. The discussions and presentations were designed with the primary objective of expanding skills in medical analysis in Madagascar. A special focus worth mentioning is the session dedicated to the use of machines in biochemistry, as well as the in-depth discussions on harmonizing laboratory standards, which represents significant progress in analysis protocols.”
Dr. Michèle Hortense Manovasoa, head of the laboratory department at the Mahavoky Atsimo university hospital, also shared her impressions. “This edition was marked by some exceptional continuing training sessions, underlining their crucial importance. I would like to mention in particular the innovative workshop dedicated to the analysis of urine strips – a procedure that may seem simple at first but in reality demands a great deal of precision and attention to detail. Once again, this 14th edition has helped to enrich and consolidate our expertise in the laboratory.”
Dr. Miary Toky Herindrainy Rajoelina, technical assistant to the General Secretary of the MSANP, closed the session with a rousing speech: “Many thanks to RESAMAD for its commitment and involvement in the implementation of the national strategic plan for the development of laboratories with the Ministry of Public Health. May RESAMAD develop further, with all hospital laboratories becoming members.”
At the end of this productive session, RESAMAD has confirmed its place as a key player in the healthcare landscape in Madagascar, as well as a driving force and essential element in the performance of the health system.
About RESAMAD
RESAMAD is a network of public laboratories in Madagascar dedicated to improving the quality of medical analyses to guarantee the reliability of diagnosis and contribute to improving public health.