Laboratory services, networks and systems are indispensable to global health security and effective health systems. Medical laboratories play a pivotal role in global disease diagnosis, surveillance, outbreak investigation, initiation and monitoring of therapy, as well as research and development. Medical laboratories in Africa are unfortunately underdeveloped and cannot meet the testing demands of health priorities in the 21st century.

ASLM2016 aims to serve as a platform for the international laboratory medicine community to share best practices, acquire knowledge and debate innovative approaches for meeting modern day global health priorities.

Prof. Anthony Emeribe, Registrar/CEO of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, recently spoke with ASLM about his role as the ASLM2016 conference co-chair and the importance of laboratories in Africa.

“Diagnoses contribute 60 to 85% of clinical decisions; without the laboratories, modern healthcare becomes mere guess work. A strong national health system cannot exist with a weak laboratory system.” – Prof. Emeribe

Click here to read ASLM’s special profile interview with Prof. Emeribe.

Prof. Wendy Stevens of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, recently spoke with ASLM about her role as the ASLM2016 conference co-chair and her hopes for the future of laboratory medicine in Africa.

“Strong laboratory networks coupled with good surveillance strategies are needed to combat global health threats.” – Prof. Stevens

Click here to read ASLM’s special profile interview with Prof. Stevens.

ASLM2016 is the third biennial international conference of the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM).

ASLM2016 is scheduled to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3-8 December 2016. (The exhibition hall will be available from 5-8 December 2016.)

ASLM is an independent, pan-African professional body that coordinates, galvanises and mobilises relevant stakeholders – local, national and international – so that together, we improve local access to world-class laboratory services and ensure healthy African communities now and for the long-term.