19 May 2022

 The Scottish Livingstone Hospital medical laboratory was this week certified ISO 15189 compliant by the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Services (SADCAS). 

Speaking during the accreditation ceremony in Molepolole, Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said they embraced accreditation as a strategy for gauging competence of medical laboratories. 

He said they recognised the importance of medical laboratory systems and the need for policies that operated them. 

“It gives me great confidence that the service we are offering is of top notch since their qualities have been authenticated by reputable institutions like the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Services (SADCAS),” said Dr Dikoloti. 

He said accreditation meant the laboratory adhered to high scientific standards. He also noted that it was serving a 350 bed hospital with 62 health facilities around Kweneng District. Minister Dikoloti added that it was a great achievement for the country and the people who would be getting services of a high standard. 

He outlined some of the benefits that came with accreditation as quality and reliable results, confidence in the data generated, cost reduction and strength in all programmes and processes. 

The laboratory is one of eight in the country that have been accredited after Bamalete Lutheran Hospital, Princess Marina Hospital, Harvard Laboratory, National TB Reference Laboratory, Nyangwabwe laboratory and Nyangwabwe HIV reference laboratory The minister urged the Scottish Livingstone laboratory staff to work hard in order to maintain the accreditation status. 

He also applauded SADCAS for playing a pivotal role in helping the laboratory to qualify for accreditation. He said it was through the support of PEPFAR that the country made significant strides in developing its health system to fight HIV. 

The deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy, Ms Amanda Jacobson said Botswana was a leader not only in sub-Saharan Africa, but the whole world in epidemic control and that the certification of its laboratories was confirmation of such. 

Ms Jacobson said she worked closely with government in the prioritisation of laboratories accreditation through the national laboratory strategic plans whose funding was done through PEPFAR. The Scottish hospital laboratory manager, Ms Peggy Sechele said it was through endless efforts that they managed to qualify after 10 years of trying. 

SADCAS CEO, Ms Maureen Mutasa said they established a system that helped in attaining the certificate. She highlighted the importance of the ISO 15189 certificate, saying it was a vital tool for medical laboratories to improve their quality performance, efficiency and reliability. She added that it was through rigorous assessments that the laboratory managed to achieve accreditation. 

Meanwhile, Molepolole South Member of Parliament, Mr Kabo Morwaeng encouraged the laboratory team to maintain the spirit and work towards retaining the accreditation through adherence to required standards. Mr Morwaeng also advised the team to work together in order to avoid losing what they struggled to achieve. ends