Coordination of laboratory and diagnostic services during public health emergencies: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Diagnostics and laboratory testing are critical components of facilities’ systems for emergency response to infectious diseases. Yet, critical gaps exist in the testing and diagnostic capacities of faith-based health providers, particularly those in low and middle-income countries, limiting their response to health emergencies. Accordingly, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for the World Health Organization African Region (1 February 2021–31 January 2022) was used to examine the capacity for laboratory and diagnostic services in a Christian Health Association of Ghana’s (CHAG) facility during the Marburg Virus outbreak in Ghana. METHOD: To examine the fifth pillar of the WHO COVID-19 SPRP-AFR (2021), 15 clinical and nonclinical health workers from a CHAG facility and Ghana Health Service (GHS) staff were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. FINDINGS: The CHAG facility relied extensively on external assistance from government of Ghana during MVD outbreak. The major challenges identified include equipment and human resource constraints, over-reliance on external entities for testing, and delays in sample collection and turnover time, among others. CONCLUSION: Given the recent disease outbreaks in Sub-Saharan Africa, the government of Ghana and owners of healthcare facilities in Ghana must start resourcing their facilities with the relevant structural and non-structural equipment in readiness for future disease outbreaks.