SEALAB consultation meeting in Vientiane

The first consultation meeting for the SEALAB project was held on November 10, 2020 in Vientiane. Members of the SEALAB Consortium in attendance included the Mérieux Foundation, Integrated Quality Laboratory Services (IQLS) that has developed specific tools to assess the Laboratory Systems and the National Reference Laboratory in Australia (NRL) that supports the quality of testing for infectious diseases.

The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Sisavath Southaniraxay, Deputy Director General of Communicable Disease Control, by Mr. Vilayphone Vonglaphim, Director General of Livestock and Fisheries Department, by Dr. Bouaphanh Khamphaphongphane, Deputy Director of National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology, by Mme Jeanblanc-Risler, French Ambassador, by Ms. Anna Dyanson, First Secretary for Education and Governance at the Australian Embassy and by Dr. Benoit Chevalier, Country Representative of the Merieux Fondation in Lao PDR.

This meeting brought together veterinary and public health key stakeholders, clinicians, laboratory technical professionals at central laboratory networks including the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology, the Center of Infectiology Lao Christophe Merieux, the Institut Pasteur in Lao PDR, the National Animal Health Laboratory. This meeting gave as well opportunity to the Heads of laboratory of hospitals from Vientiane (Mahosot and Sethathirath Hospital) and from provinces (Khammuan, Bolikhamxay, Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Sayabouly and Oudomxay) to participate in discussions on the objectives, activities, expected outputs and outcomes of the SEALAB Project.

At the meeting, the participants agreed to be involved on key progress and challenges regarding updating of the current National Strategic Plan for Health Laboratories 2013-2020 in Laos, as well as the National Veterinary Laboratory Plan. They also committed to recommend a synopsis of activities and to determine key steps in the implementation of the SEALAB project.

The SEALAB project is a regional project, however, the Merieux Foundation, IQLS and NRL will provide a customized support to Lao PDR to match with the context of the laboratory system in the country and the priority needs in line with the country strategy.