Strengthening Laboratory Capabilities in Improving HIV/AIDS and Other Diseases Support in Zimbabwe
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35898/ghmj-82992Keywords:
Laboratory, Testing, Governments, HIV/AIDS, Disease, DiagnosisAbstract
Background: Laboratory services are always overlooked by the governments when it comes to funding, and they are mostly left behind in terms of newer testing technologies, however, in Zimbabwe, there has been a tremendous improvement in laboratory support through the partners and donors.
Aims: The objective of the study was to review the progress made in strengthening laboratory capabilities in improving HIV/AIDS and other disease support in Zimbabwe.
Methods: This study adopted a qualitative research method based on secondary data collected from laboratory documentation, including websites such as SADCAS. The study focused mainly on laboratories scattered around Zimbabwe, on the improvements made in support of HIV care in Zimbabwe.
Results: The results show that there has been a great improvement in terms of laboratory performance and management through support from various donors interested in HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. Furthermore, the results show that there are currently 13 public health laboratories accredited to SADCAS, several improvements in employee support, and new technologies are being employed throughout the Zimbabwean laboratories for both HIV and TB care. Additionally, the laboratory information system is functional and now helps to send laboratory results to clinics and patients for patient management by all the clinics and hospitals.
Conclusion: However, concerns regarding reliance on and the sustainability of these partnerships remain a challenge if they sever ties with the laboratory services, as the funding from the government is not adequate to support the laboratory’s full independence. As for the policy makers, they can help to improve the funding gaps to enable sustainability in the long run so that the gains acquired will not go to waste if the donors and partners decide otherwise, as is happening with USAID and PEPFAR funding.
Downloads
References
Adekoya, A., Okezue, M. A., & Menon, K. (2025). Medical Laboratories in Healthcare Delivery: A Systematic Review of Their Roles and Impact. Laboratories, 2(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/laboratories2010008
Akingbola, A., Adegbesan, A., Mariaria, P., Isaiah, O., & Adeyemi, E. (2025). A pause that hurts: The global impact of halting PEPFAR funding for HIV/AIDS programs. Infectious Diseases, 57(4), 378–384. https://doi.org/10.1080/23744235.2025.2464857
Aluttis et al. (2013). Public Health capacity in the Eurpoean Union.
Bendavid, E. (2016). Past and Future Performance: PEPFAR in the Landscape of Foreign Aid for Health. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 13(5), 256–262. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-016-0326-8
Chihaka, S. and Dhlakama, D. (2009). ‘Developing a National Health Strategy 2008–2013’. Working Consultative Document. Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
Church, D. L., & Naugler, C. (2019). Benefits and risks of standardization, harmonization and conformity to opinion in clinical laboratories. Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 56(5), 287–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408363.2019.1615408
Dacombe, R, Bates, I, Bhardwaj, M, Wallis, S, & Pulford, J. (2016). An analysis of approaches to laboratory capacity strengthening for drug resistant infections in low and middle income countries. (pp. 1–148). Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Dupwa, B., Kumar, A. M. V., Tripathy, J. P., Mugurungi, O., Takarinda, K. C., Dzangare, J., Bara, H., & Mukeredzi, I. (2019). Retesting for verification of HIV diagnosis before antiretroviral therapy initiation in Harare, Zimbabwe: Is there a gap between policy and practice? Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 113(10), 610–616. https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trz047
Elendu, C., Amaechi, D. C., Elendu, T. C., Amaechi, E. C., Elendu, I. D., Akpa, K. N., Oloyede, P. O., Adegbola, M. O., & Idowu, O. F. (2025). Shaping sustainable paths for HIV/AIDS funding: A review and reminder. Annals of Medicine & Surgery, 87(3), 1415–1445. https://doi.org/10.1097/ms9.0000000000002976
Global Fund. (2013). Audit of Global Fund Grants to the Republic of Zimbabwe (pp. 1–42). 1 http://audit-public-disclosure.undp.org/view_audit_rpt_2.cfm?audit_id=1089
Gregson, S., Moorhouse, L., Dadirai, T., Sheppard, H., Mayini, J., Beckmann, N., Skovdal, M., Dzangare, J., Moyo, B., Maswera, R., Pinsky, B. A., Mharakurwa, S., Francis, I., Mugurungi, O., & Nyamukapa, C. (2021). Comprehensive investigation of sources of misclassification errors in routine HIV testing in Zimbabwe. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 24(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.25700
Haeri Mazanderani, A., Moyo, F., & Sherman, G. G. (2017). Missed diagnostic opportunities within South Africa’s early infant diagnosis program, 2010–2015. PLOS ONE, 12(5), e0177173. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177173
Hamel, D. J., Sankalé, J.-L., Samuels, J. O., Sarr, A. D., Chaplin, B., Ofuche, E., Meloni, S. T., Okonkwo, P., & Kanki, P. J. (2015). Building laboratory capacity to support HIV care in Nigeria: Harvard/APIN PEPFAR, 2004–2012. African Journal of Laboratory Medicine, 4(1), 10 pages. https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v4i1.190
Howard, A. A., Gasana, M., Getahun, H., Harries, A., Lawn, S. D., Miller, B., Nelson, L., Sitienei, J., & Coggin, W. L. (2012). PEPFAR Support for the Scaling Up of Collaborative TB/HIV Activities. JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 60(Supplement 3), S136–S144. https://doi.org/10.1097/qai.0b013e31825cfe8e
Isah, M. (2025). New Era for Zimbabwe Polio Lab After Biggest Upgrade in 20 Years. New Era for Zimbabwe Polio Lab After Biggest Upgrade in 20 Years. https://ehealthafrica.org/new-era-for-zimbabwe-polio-lab-after-biggest-upgrade-in-20-years/
Kruk, M. E., Gage, A. D., Arsenault, C., Jordan, K., Leslie, H. H., Roder-DeWan, S., Adeyi, O., Barker, P., Daelmans, B., Doubova, S. V., English, M., García-Elorrio, E., Guanais, F., Gureje, O., Hirschhorn, L. R., Jiang, L., Kelley, E., Lemango, E. T., Liljestrand, J., … Pate, M. (2018). High-quality health systems in the Sustainable Development Goals era: Time for a revolution. The Lancet Global Health, 6(11), e1196–e1252. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(18)30386-3
Lingg, M., Wyss, K., & Durán-Arenas, L. (2016). Effects of procurement practices on quality of medical device or service received: A qualitative study comparing countries. BMC Health Services Research, 16(1), 362. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1610-4
Mayavo, C. (2023). Towards the Development of a Sustainable Procurement Framework for Improved Operational Efficiency in Donor-funded Procurements in the Zimbabwean Public Health Laboratory Services. University of the Witwatersrand.
Mayavo, C. (2024). Donor-funded procurement effectiveness in the public health medical laboratory services: Examining the moderation role for government policy in donor-support. GHMJ (Global Health Management Journal), 7(2), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.35898/ghmj-72984
Mayavo, C., & Saruchera, F. (2024). Donor-funded procurement determinants and effectiveness of procurement in the public health medical laboratory services: Examining the mediating factors. International Journal of Procurement Management, 20(5), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJPM.2024.138755
Meyer-Rath, G., Jamieson, L., Mudimu, E., Imai-Eaton, J. W., & Johnson, L. F. (2025). The cost of the plunge: The impact and cost of a cessation of PEPFAR-supported services in South Africa. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.22.25326207
Ministry of Health and Child Care (2021). National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan. Harare, Zimbabwe
Ministry of Health and Child care. (2022). National Quantification for Laboratory Commodities (pp. 1–42). Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Nzombe, P., Luman, E. T., Shumba, E., Mangwanya, D., Simbi, R., Kilmarx, P. H., & Zimuto, S. N. (2014). Maximising mentorship: Variations in laboratory mentorship models implemented in Zimbabwe. African Journal of Laboratory Medicine, 3(2), 8 pages. https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v3i2.241
Olalere, N., Gatome-Munyua, A. (2020). Public financing for health in Abuja: 15% of an elephant is not 15% of a chicken. Africa Renewal.
Ondoa, P., Ndlovu, N., Keita, M.-S., Massinga-Loembe, M., Kebede, Y., Odhiambo, C., Mekonen, T., Ashenafi, A., Kebede, A., & Nkengasong, J. (2020). Preparing national tiered laboratory systems and networks to advance diagnostics in Africa and meet the continent’s health agenda: Insights into priority areas for improvement. African Journal of Laboratory Medicine, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v9i2.1103
Ondoa, P., Van Der Broek, A., Jansen, C., De Bruijn, H., & Schultsz, C. (2017). National laboratory policies and plans in sub-Saharan African countries: Gaps and opportunities. African Journal of Laboratory Medicine, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v6i1.578
Rechel & McKee. (2012). Organisational models for delivering essential public health capacity in Europe.
Robert, E., Zongo, S., Rajan, D., & Ridde, V. (2022). Contributing to collaborative health governance in Africa: A realist evaluation of the Universal Health Coverage Partnership. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 753. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08120-0
SADC Secretariat. (2015). Functions and Minimum Standards for National Reference Laboratories in the SADC Region (pp. 1–25).
Safi, M., Bertram, M. L., & Gulis, G. (2020). Assessing Delivery of Selected Public Health Operations via Essential Public Health Operation Framework. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), 6435. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176435
Sirirungsi, W., Khamduang, W., Collins, I. J., Pusamang, A., Leechanachai, P., Chaivooth, S., Ngo-Giang-Huong, N., & Samleerat, T. (2016). Early infant HIV diagnosis and entry to HIV care cascade in Thailand: An observational study. The Lancet HIV, 3(6), e259–e265. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2352-3018(16)00045-x
University of Delaware (2023). ABI Genetic Analyser 3130. https://www.dbi.udel.edu/resources-and-facilities/dna-sequencing-genotyping-center
Zimuto, S., Mtambara, A., Cheng, B., Cunningham, B., Taruvinga, R., Boeras, D. I., & Simbi, R. (2016). Quality assurance for point-of-care testing in Zimbabwe. African Journal of Laboratory Medicine, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v5i2.448
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Crossman Mayavo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
GHMJ (Global Health Management Journal) conforms fully to The Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) and DOAJ Open Access Definition. Authors, readers, and reviewers are free to Share ” copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and Adapt ” remix, transform, and build upon the material. Author(s) retain unrestricted copyrights and publishing rights of their work. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Learn the details at the License policy.
How to Cite
