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

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. 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. 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. 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.