The 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the ECOWAS Regional Network of Reference Laboratories is underway in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
The two-day AGM opened in the Ivoirian capital on Friday, less than 12 hours after the close of the 2nd ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference (#ELFIC2025), which was organised by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), in partnership with regional and international collaborators.
With the theme, “Beyond borders: strengthening regional cooperation to fight Lassa fever and emerging infectious diseases,” four-day #ELFIC2025, which had brought together experts, policymakers and international partners, was dedicated to addressing Lassa fever. It came at a critical time when the viral disease continues to pose a serious threat to millions across West Africa.
Shortly after it was declared open by H.E. Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, the conference kicked off with a number of activities, including a roundtable of ECOWAS Health Ministers, who agreed to strengthen national and regional platforms to accelerate clinical research towards a vaccine and enhance the region’s capacity to respond to future epidemics and pandemics.
The AGM of the ECOWAS Regional Network of Reference Laboratories, scheduled to end on 13 September 2025, is part of the activities aimed at strengthening laboratory systems and epidemiological surveillance in West Africa, within the framework of the *PROALAB* project, supported by WAHO.
Established by WAHO to improve biological diagnosis quality, the network of reference laboratories plays a crucial role in surveillance, detection, and response to health threats in ECOWAS Member States.
It supports member countries by pooling regional technical capacity, providing training on laboratory quality management systems using tools like the SLIPTA checklist, and encouraging laboratories to achieve accreditation for enhanced health security in West Africa.
