Lesotho is a leading country in Africa region in implementing World Health Organisation (WHO) laboratory quality standards whose aim is to improve lab services. Out of African countries Lesotho is the only country that managed to conduct Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation (SMLTA) training for 25 laboratories in the country except Quthing.

Caption: Director Laboratory Services during the tour at Central laboratory in Maseru

The Director of Laboratory Services in the Ministry of Health Mr. David Mothabeng said before the SMLTA training, Lesotho conducted its own baseline assessment around the 25 laboratories where the quality standard of 24 local laboratories were zero except one laboratory with one star.

Mr. Mothabeng said but after the trainings there were big impact whereby the quality standard of laboratory services increased from zero to star but there are still 8 laboratories especially in the highlands districts which are still at zero ratings. He attributed the low laboratory services in highlands to high turn-over of staff as many laboratory technicians do not like to work in the mountains as a results other unqualified health workers are not able to apply quality standards that are required properly.

During the quality assessment among the key areas that the assessment focus include number of qualified laboratory personnel, their job descriptions and short trainings, documentation and record keeping, standardized procedures of laboratory practices, quality control, safety, cleanliness, fire extinguisher, waste management etc.

The list of key areas for assessment goes as far as 12 and the total point are 250. Therefore if the laboratory did excellent will score 250 and this will represent 5 stars while those which scored 55 – 137 they would score 1 star and below 50 is Zero rating. A Laboratory has to score 250 marks (five stars) to apply for international accreditation.

In order to up-grade the remaining 8 laboratories that are not performing well, the Ministry of health has created a Mentor/training position whereby responsible mentor will be visiting all laboratories to conduct on-job trainings and make regular follow-up visits to ensure the laboratory quality standards are improved country wide.

Meanwhile, following the SMLTA trainings the Ministry of Health conducted a laboratory services conference on February, 2011 where they awarded certificates to top best laboratories after completion of eight months course on Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation (SMLTA).

The top laboratories that received quality services awards are Makoanyane Military hospital, Maluti Adventist hospital, Mafeteng Government hospital, St. Joseph's RC Mission hospital and Berea Government hospital with 3's and 2 stars respectively.

The training was supported by PEPFAR to improve the quality of laboratory and disease diagnosis in the country. Other organization such as CHAI provides technical support while Global Fund grants assisted in recruitment of additional qualified human resource in all laboratories and also helps in procurement of laboratory machines and reagents without which laboratory could not be able to achieve provision of quality services.