Dr Talkmore Maruta

Our colleagues Dr Lucy Mupfumi and Fritz Roland Fonkeng joined @PATHtweets colleagues in Kigali to discuss how ASLM ecosystem strengthening work under MADE can strengthen regional manufacturing. They also participated in @AU_AMA_'s inaugural industry innovation day and networked with manufacturers and regulators. ASLM is excited to be contributing to this continental agenda as part of the MADE consortium

Countdown to Cape Town! This week, meet the voices speaking at #ASLM2026. What does it take to turn public health priorities into action? Meet Hon. Dr Chris Baryomunsi, Uganda’s Minister of Health, a physician, public health specialist, and demographer with more than 30 years of experience spanning medicine, public health, international development, and national governance. Throughout his career, he has held senior Cabinet positions, contributed to public health legislation and worked across national and international development initiatives. His experience brings together the policy, leadership, and public health perspectives essential to strengthening health systems. As Africa advances integrated diagnostics and sustainable health security, leadership and collaboration remain vital to translating health priorities into meaningful impact. Join us in welcoming Hon. Dr Chris Baryomunsi to the #ASLM2026 opening ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, 8–11 December 2026. The countdown is on; will you be there? @MinofHealthUG #ASLM2026 #HealthSecurity #IntegratedDiagnostics #PublicHealth

The countdown is on! Just 14 days remain to secure your extended Early Bird registration rate for ASLM2026, available until 30 September 2026! 🎟️ Join laboratory professionals, scientists, policymakers, researchers, public health leaders, innovators, and industry partners from Africa and around the world in Cape Town, South Africa, from 8–11 December 2026. Under the theme: 🔬 Integrated Diagnostics for Health Security: Investing in Sustainable Impact ASLM2026 will bring together the laboratory medicine community to explore practical solutions, exchange knowledge, and strengthen integrated, resilient, and sustainable diagnostic systems for health security across Africa. 🏢 Exhibition Opportunities Are Filling Up! With 20 exhibition booths already taken, organisations looking to showcase their products, technologies, services, and innovations to a global audience of laboratory and public health professionals are encouraged to secure their exhibition space. 👉 Explore exhibition options and booth pricing: aslm2026.org/sponsors-partne… 📅 Early Bird Deadline: 30 September 2026 🎟️ Register today and secure your place at ASLM2026! 🔗 aslm2026.org/registration/ 📍 Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), South Africa We look forward to welcoming you to Cape Town for four days of knowledge exchange, innovation, collaboration, and action towards a stronger future for laboratory medicine and health security in Africa. #ASLM2026 #ASLM #LaboratoryMedicine #DiagnosticsAfrica #HealthSecurity #LaboratorySystems #PublicHealth #AfricaHealth #ScientificInnovation #Partnerships #CapeTown #EarlyBirdRegistration

We are pleased to announce @flyethiopian as the Official Travel Partner of the ASLM2026 Biennial Conference, taking place 8–11 December 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa! As laboratory professionals, scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and partners from across Africa and beyond come together, Ethiopian Airlines is helping make your journey to ASLM2026 more accessible. ✈️ Enjoy an exclusive 15% discount on Business and Economy Class fares when you travel to ASLM2026 with Ethiopian Airlines. 🎟️ How to access your discount: 1️⃣ Register for #ASLM2026. 2️⃣ Receive your unique promotional code after registration. 3️⃣ Apply the code when booking your flight with Ethiopian Airlines to access the 15% discount. 🤝 This partnership reflects Track 6: Partnerships, Innovation and Sustainable Impact, highlighting how strategic partnerships can create practical value for the ASLM community and support participation in Africa’s laboratory and diagnostics conference. 🌍 Join us in Cape Town for four days of scientific exchange, collaboration, and dialogue under the theme: Integrated Diagnostics for Health Security: Investing in Sustainable Impact. 🎟️ Register for ASLM2026: aslm2026.org/registration/ 🔗 Learn more about the exclusive travel offer: ethiopianairlines.com/events…? We look forward to welcoming you to Cape Town! #ASLM2026 #ASLM #EthiopianAirlines #LaboratoryMedicine #HealthSecurity #DiagnosticsAfrica #Partnerships #SustainableImpact #CapeTown #AfricaHealth

The Certificate Is Just the Beginning ASLM’s journey towards ISO 9001:2015 certification marks an important milestone in the organisation’s continued commitment to quality. The journey, which began in December 2024, involved strengthening policies and processes, conducting internal audits, addressing risks and corrective actions, training teams, and building a culture where quality is everyone’s responsibility. Following the Stage 2 audit, ASLM was recommended for certification with only three minor nonconformities—a reflection of the collective commitment across the organisation. But the journey does not end with certification. The certificate is the beginning of a sustained commitment to quality and continuous improvement. 📖 Read the full article: aslm.org/the-certificate-is-… 🌍 Join us at ASLM2026, taking place 8–11 December 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, as we bring together laboratory professionals, researchers, policymakers and partners to advance integrated diagnostics, stronger laboratory systems and health security across Africa. 👉 Register today: aslm2026.org/registration/ #ASLM #ISO9001 #QualityManagement #ContinuousImprovement #LaboratoryMedicine #ASLM2026 #DiagnosticsAfrica #HealthSecurity

The LabVoice Special Edition is here! This special issue explores how years of investment in Africa’s laboratory systems are shaping the response to the 2026 Ebola outbreak, with a focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. Inside, discover stories on: 🧪 Laboratory preparedness and response — how strengthened systems are supporting outbreak control. 🚑 Mobile laboratories in the DRC — bringing testing closer to communities and reducing turnaround times from four to five days to around six hours. 🧬 Decentralised diagnostics — innovations helping bring rapid molecular testing closer to remote communities. 🤝 Partnerships and impact — the people, resources and investments supporting the response. 🇺🇬 Lessons from Uganda’s Ebola response and the importance of preparedness and cross-border collaboration. 🏆 ASLM’s ISO 9001:2015 journey and its continued commitment to quality. 📖 Read the LabVoice Special Edition here: conta.cc/4gErgBM 🌍 Join laboratory medicine professionals, researchers, policymakers, and partners in Cape Town, South Africa, for ASLM2026 from 8–11 December 2026 to explore innovations and advance stronger, more resilient laboratory systems for health security. 👉 Register for ASLM2026: aslm2026.org/registration/ #LabVoice #ASLM #ASLM2026 #DiagnosticsAfrica #LaboratorySystems #Ebola #HealthSecurity #OutbreakResponse #LaboratoryMedicine #PublicHealth

🧪🌍 ASLM2026 Ambassador Challenge: Diagnostics Start in Our Communities As part of the ASLM2026 Ambassador Challenge, Jia Duke Dondo, an ASLM Ambassador representing North Central Nigeria, Benue State, is championing the importance of timely, reliable, and accessible diagnostics in communities. A laboratory medicine student at Benue State University, Makurdi, Jia believes that health security begins in our communities, with awareness, trust, and the ability to accurately identify what is making people sick. From Ebola and COVID-19 to Lassa fever, outbreaks have shown us that strong health systems depend on the ability to detect diseases early, make informed decisions, and respond quickly. Diagnostics are more than laboratory tests and technology. They are about people, families and communities. By strengthening community engagement, building trust in science and encouraging appropriate testing, young people can play an active role in advancing health security today. This conversation will be explored at the ASLM2026 Biennial Conference, bringing together laboratory professionals, policymakers, innovators, partners and experts to examine how integrated diagnostics can strengthen health systems across Africa. Join the global laboratory medicine community in Cape Town from 8 to 11 December 2026 for the ASLM2026 Biennial Conference, under the theme: “Integrated Diagnostics for Health Security: Investing in Sustainable Impact.” 🎟️ Early Bird Registration is still open! Register now: aslm2026.org/registration/ #ASLM2026 #ASLM #Diagnostics #LaboratoryMedicine #HealthSecurity #AfricaHealth #YouthInHealth #Nigeria #BenueState #CommunityHealth #IntegratedDiagnostics

This week, Africa CDC, in collaboration with ASLM and partners, is participating in the Continental Technical Consultation on the Development of the Continental High Consequence Agents and Toxins (HCAT) List and Validation of the Africa CDC HCAT Guidance Framework, taking place in Nairobi, Kenya. The consultation brings together representatives from AU Member States, Africa CDC, regional institutions, technical partners and subject matter experts to review national HCAT lists, develop a harmonised draft Continental HCAT List, validate the Africa CDC HCAT Guidance Framework, and develop recommendations for implementation and periodic review. Delivering opening remarks, Dr Talkmore Maruta, ASLM's Director of Programs, emphasised that biosafety and biosecurity must remain an integral part of Africa’s health security architecture. He noted that the development of a Continental HCAT List should go beyond identifying high-consequence biological agents and called for the establishment of a Continental HCAT Capacity Strengthening Programme to map institutional capacities, identify critical gaps, and strengthen infrastructure, workforce, regulatory systems, and institutional competencies. As Africa advances its ambitions in bio-surveillance, research, vaccine and therapeutics development, and local manufacturing, strong biosafety and biosecurity systems will be essential to ensuring that biological capacity is developed safely, securely and sustainably. This work aligns closely with ASLM’s commitment to strengthening integrated laboratory systems and health security across Africa and reflects the importance of building sustainable, African-led capacity to detect, understand, and respond to biological threats. 🔬 Join the conversation at ASLM2026! 📍 Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa 📅 08–11 December 2026 🎟️ Register: aslm2026.org/registration/ Integrated Diagnostics for Health Security: Investing in Sustainable Impact @AfricaCDC, @CanadaFP, @UKHSA, @doddtra, @CDCgov, @WorldBankGroup, @NTI_WMD, @GPWMDofficial #ASLM2026 #Biosafety #Biosecurity #HCAT #HealthSecurity #AfricaCDC #LaboratorySystems #LaboratoryMedicine #Biosurveillance #PathogenGenomics #OneHealth #PublicHealth #Diagnostics #Research #HealthSecurityAfrica #AfricanHealth #ASLM

ASLM CEO @MrNqobileNdlovu shares insights on the launch of the WasteWise Project – Wastewater Molecular and Genomic Surveillance in African Megacities. Implemented in partnership with @AfricaCDC and European partners, including the @EU_Commission, @EC_HERA, and @EU_HaDEA, the initiative is advancing wastewater and environmental surveillance as an innovative approach to strengthening early warning systems for outbreak detection across Africa. Led by three national institutions—the L’Institut National de Recherche Biomédical (@inrb_kinshasa), the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (@EPHIEthiopia) in Addis Ababa, and the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi (@ILRI)—the project will support molecular diagnostics, laboratory quality, biosecurity, data management, and cross-country learning. Wastewater surveillance can help detect signals of potential health threats within communities, creating valuable time for investigation, preparedness, and response. 🎥 Watch the full message to learn more about WasteWise and its potential impact on Africa’s health security. These important conversations will continue at ASLM2026, under Track 3: Genomics, Surveillance & Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), exploring the role of wastewater-based surveillance as a tool for strengthening public health surveillance and outbreak preparedness. 📅 08–11 December 2026 📍 Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa 🎟️ Register now: aslm2026.org/registration/ 🔬 Integrated Diagnostics for Health Security: Investing in Sustainable Impact #WasteWise #ASLM2026 #WastewaterSurveillance #GenomicSurveillance #HealthSecurity #Diagnostics #PublicHealth #OutbreakPreparedness #AfricaCDC #ASLM

📣 Registration, Sponsorship Opportunities, and Exhibition Bookings Are Still Open for ASLM 2026! ASLM is pleased to announce that registration is open, with sponsorship opportunities and exhibition bookings still available for the ASLM 2026 Biennial Conference, taking place from 08–11 December 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), South Africa. Under the theme "Integrated Diagnostics for Health Security: Investing in Sustainable Impact", ASLM2026 will convene global health leaders, policymakers, researchers, scientists, laboratory professionals, industry partners, and innovators to discuss transformative solutions that strengthen health security and sustainable diagnostic systems. Organizations are invited to showcase their innovations and solutions through a range of sponsorship and exhibition packages designed to maximize visibility and engagement with key stakeholders across the laboratory and public health sectors. Participants are also encouraged to take advantage of early registration rates, while partners can contribute to the development of future laboratory leaders through the Young Scientist Scholarship Fund. 📅 Date: 08–11 December 2026 📍 Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), South Africa 🔗 Register: aslm2026.org/registration/ 🔗 Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities: aslm2026.org/sponsors-partne… We look forward to welcoming you to Cape Town for an inspiring and impactful ASLM2026.

In August, laboratory system assessments were conducted in Burkina Faso and Mozambique under the auspices of the World Health Organization @WHO and @AfricaCDC, with support from the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) and the @gatesfoundation. Using the Laboratory Systems Maturity Monitoring (LMM) tool, the assessments provided an opportunity to examine how national laboratory systems are functioning, identify areas of strength, and pinpoint where further support and investment are needed. The process looked across key components of laboratory systems, from governance and workforce development to quality management, biosafety and biosecurity, diagnostic services, laboratory information systems, and disease surveillance. 🔬 This work directly aligns with #ASLM2026 Track 1: Laboratory Systems Strengthening, Quality and Health Security, highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing system-level gaps to build stronger diagnostic and laboratory networks across Africa. Join leading laboratory professionals, policymakers, scientists, and partners at ASLM 2026 as we explore practical approaches to strengthening Africa’s laboratory systems and advancing health security. 🎟️ Early Bird Registration is still open! 📅 08–11 December 2026 📍 Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), South Africa 🔗 Register today: aslm2026.org/registration/ #ASLM2026 #LaboratorySystems #LMM #HealthSecurity #LaboratoryMedicine #Diagnostics #QualityManagement #Biosafety #DiseaseSurveillance #OutbreakPreparedness #AfricaCDC #WHOAFRO #ASLM #BurkinaFaso #Mozambique #PublicHealth

ASLM CEO, @MrNqobileNdlovu, will be a speaker at the African BioGenome Project @DAISEA_AfricaBP Open Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics Southern Africa Regional Workshop 2026 and the 1st African Congress on Digital Sequence Information Infrastructure Development and Policy. 🧬🌍 Taking place 7–11 September 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, the hybrid event will bring together researchers, scientists, policymakers, innovators and other stakeholders to advance conversations around genomics, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence and digital sequence information infrastructure in Africa. Mr Ndlovu will speak on the topic "Beyond Sequencing: Building Africa’s AI-Enabled Genomics Ecosystem”. This conversation closely aligns with ASLM2026 Track 5: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Health & Data Systems for Health Security, reinforcing the importance of harnessing advanced technologies and data systems to build resilient health security across the continent. 📅 7–8 September 2026 📍 South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa 🌐 Hybrid event 🔗 Join the conversation and register: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F…