Building diagnostic systems in Sierra Leone: The role of point-of-care devices in laboratory strengthening

5Public Health Laboratories, Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone The 2014–2016 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak highlighted the vital importance of investing in West Africa’s laboratory infrastructure and systems. In the absence of facilities capable of handling highly infectious pathogens, the national response across the region was hamstrung by costly delays in case identification and blind spots in epidemiological surveillance. The rapid development of EVD diagnostic tools that could speed up testing and be used at or near the point of care became a public health priority. To expedite their deployment, a series of crosssectional research and development initiatives were launched including innovative financing mechanisms, data-sharing platforms, public-private partnerships and accelerated regulatory pathways.1

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