The Urban TB LON II project, in close collaboration with the South Ethiopia Public Health Institute Laboratory, regional laboratories (Bulehora and Shashemene), and Zonal Health Departments (Gedeo, West Guji, and Guji), successfully conducted bi-annual TB laboratory review meetings in Dilla, Bulehora, and Shakiso.
The meetings brought together key stakeholders across the diagnostic network, including laboratory professionals from GeneXpert sites, referring facilities, and Private Public Mix (PPM) facilities, alongside Zonal Laboratory coordinators, Regional Laboratory officials, and Zonal Health Department leadership.
Why This Matters: A High-Yield System Intervention
This initiative is a strategic, evidence-based intervention designed to optimize the TB diagnostic network at the zonal level. Rather than relying on heavy infrastructure investments, the review meetings focus on structured problem-solving and actionable planning to improve service delivery.
Key Impact Areas:
- Enhanced Performance & Quality: Directly improves diagnostic access, efficiency, and the coordination of TB laboratory services.
- Overcoming Core Bottlenecks: Actively addresses critical system challenges, including equipment underutilization, delayed test results, weak specimen referral networks, and poor data use.
- Cost-Effective Transmission Reduction: Programmatically, this stands as one of the most cost-effective strategies to accelerate TB case detection and reduce community transmission through faster, more accurate diagnosis.
By aligning frontline laboratory professionals with regional leadership, Urban TB LON II continues to strengthen health systems and ensure high-quality care reaches those who need it most.
