New Life for Labs - A Needed Impact on Care

Today, in developing sub-Saharan countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia, hundreds of thousands of people have reason to be hopeful in their battle against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB).

The laboratory tests and services that play such a critical part in the decision making for treatment are undergoing a marked improvement in quality—and accuracy.

BD and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), building on a prior five-year, public-private partnership, have launched Labs for Life.^SM The $20 million collaboration, which will include Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique and India, is focused on strengthening healthcare and laboratory systems in the developing world.

In HIV- and TB-stricken locales where laboratory services are vitally important for saving lives, Labs for Life is helping clinical facilities achieve key accreditations, train personnel in maintaining equipment and enhance studies in pathology-related topics.

More importantly, this cross-sector initiative provides a source of pride to the dedicated laboratory workers who see so many cases of disease. They’re rewarded in knowing they’ve produced more accurate results that help change lives.

"I perform rapid HIV tests. Because of me, 43 mothers protected their unborn babies from a deadly infection," commented one lab employee affiliated with the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM).

"Our work with PEPFAR over the last five years has demonstrated how the private sector can effectively apply its technologies and expertise to have a positive impact on healthcare in the regions most heavily burdened by disease," said Vincent A. Forlenza, Chairman, CEO and President, BD. "We are honoured that PEPFAR agreed to launch Labs for Life with us, and we look forward to our continued work together."

Through initiatives that increase the capacity of health systems and improve the quality of services across Africa,¹ BD is helping to ensure these laboratories realise their full potential.

¹ Based on an audit by an external auditing company, Cardno, on capacity-building and quality of services to local populations in Africa