National laboratory prepares for world recognition

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

THE national public health laboratory (NPHL) under the Ministry of Health (MHMS) is working to attain the international standard accreditation – ISO 17025.

Hopefully by the end of 2019, NPHL will be accredited with the accreditation.

Director of NPHL Dickson Manongi said that after a workshop held earlier this year, a steering committee was established to oversee implementation and management of the project as well as provide guidance as needed.

He said currently they working round the clock to prepare the facility.

Manongi said as part of their preparation there is an internal arrangement to allow laboratory preparation and work to flow unhindered.

He said instrument and equipment, expired reagents, culture agars and medium that were expired or out of service were discarded.

“Relocated of officers seating arrangement out of the lab analytical to nontoxic environment.

“Relocate hazard chemical storage to outside Hazchem hut outside the Laboratory, repair of water systems and plumbing systems like toilets.

“Repair air-condition ensuring the internal temperature is sustain and maintain services, internal airflow for the sterile room and SOPs for proper disposal of Hazardous chemicals and biological microorganisms,” Manongi said.

He added, the laboratory was assigned to perform tests on 50- 100 plus sample of food per week including water samples, environmental samples and manufactured drinking water.

Manongi said samples also needed on disease outbreak investigation, food from industries (bakeries, beverages, Ice creams, others), waste discharge (mining, palm oils, workshops, housing estates, institutions) and environment pollution (rivers and coastal seas).

They have also made orders through the National Medical Stores for consumables to carry out lab analysis for biological and chemical testings

Manongi said orders are on agars, cultures, medium and equipment from overseas supplies.

Adding that NPHL is also pursuing the laboratory quality management manual system (LQMMS) as it’s very important as a reference for accreditation.

He said the purpose for LQMMS is to direct the lab in two major aspects of lab management that is required to encompass 15 subsections and the technical requirement that has 10 subsections within NPHL.

Manongi said as part of the preparation NPHL needs four additional staffs who have knowledge in Medical Laboratory Science or Chemistry food or clinical Microbiology.

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