Leading figures in clinical biology from the 15 countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) came together in Cotonou for the joint RESAOLAB/WARDS Technical Workshops.

Around 60 people attended this meeting held at Benin Royal Hotel in Cotonou. In addition to representatives of the ECOWAS member countries, the International Coordination team from the Mérieux Foundation and a representative of the West African Health Organization also took part.

After taking stock of progress and developments within the scope of the West African Regional Disease Surveillance (WARDS) project, delegates attended several workshops focusing on:

• New WARDS e-learning modules
• External quality assessment, specifically the program piloted by OneWorld Accuracy
• Antibiotic resistance
• LabBook
• Mapping exercises in clinical biology laboratories with the countries that have taken part to date talking about their experience and sharing feedback

One of RESAOLAB’s main activities is to provide infrastructure to the health ministries of the network’s member countries in order to support the development of an efficient laboratory system.

A final workshop addressed the roles of national laboratory directorates, national health ministries and reference labs.

The RESAOLAB International Coordination team reiterated the need for each country to have its own laboratory directorate supported by a clear national policy and strategy.

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