IQLS Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Antoine Pierson along with Burkina Faso’s Minister of the Environment, Economy and Climate Change Siméon Sawadogo led the launch of the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme (GLLP) in Burkina Faso at a meeting held on April 2, 2021.

From IQLS Africa, Senior Laboratory Specialist Dr. Abdoulaye Nikiéma, National Laboratory Specialist Dr. André Coulibaly, Laboratory Specialist Yiyé Nagalo, Project Coordinator Aïda Barro and Administrative & Logistics Assistant Yasmina Triandé were present on-site to participate in and manage the organization of the two-day meeting to ensure a successful outcome.

Purpose & Participants
This first meeting served to strengthen collaboration between the different stakeholders for the effective implementation of the program as well as to validate the terms of reference for the GLLP Burkina Faso Technical Working Group.

In attendance were 34 attendees from key public and private agencies and institutions, including representatives from:

  • WHO
  • CDC
  • FAO
  • IDDS/USAID
  • Heads and directors of laboratories from different sectors
  • University teachers and researchers

After the official launch of the program, the Technical Working Group held its first meeting on May 6 and 7, 2021 to validate the program implementation plan and the selection process for participants and mentors.

The call for applications has been launched, and interested candidates will have until May 31 to submit their applications.

Next Steps
At the start of June, GLLP learning materials will be translated into the local language and participants and mentors will be selected for program.

In addition, a workshop will take place with academic authorities from the University of Ouagadougou, covering the strategy for introducing GLLP into the pre-service curricula of medical laboratory specialists.

About the GLLP: Empowering National Laboratory Systems
The goal of the GLLP in Burkina Faso is to foster and mentor current and emerging laboratory leaders to build, strengthen, and sustain national laboratory systems. Over a period of two years, the program aims to help improve laboratories by providing theoretical and practical training to human, veterinary, environmental, water and food laboratory specialists in Burkina Faso.

The GLLP includes a collaboration of six international partner organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). These partners support the advancement of laboratory systems across the globe and are committed to the vision of laboratory leaders empowering national laboratory systems using a One Health approach to strengthen health security of human, animal, food and water laboratories.

For more information, please see the GLLP website at: https://www.who.int/initiatives/global-laboratory-leadership-programme

See local news coverage in French here: https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article103789