by Lorraine Anyango.
A quiet revolution is underway in Kisumu County, promising to dramatically enhance patient care across Africa. The focus of this transformation? The strategic development of local site capacity for advanced diagnostic pathology, with Kisumu poised to become a regional hub of excellence in this critical medical field.
At the heart of this groundbreaking initiative is an intensive “trainer of trainers” workshop on advanced pathology, currently ongoing in Kisumu. This pivotal program is not just about upskilling; it’s about laying the foundation for a fully ledged regional centre of excellence for pathology, equipped to tackle complex health challenges across the continent. A key specific outcome will be the adoption of advanced immunohistochemistry procedures for infectious disease diagnostics, a game-changer for accurate and timely identification of pathogens.
The training, generously facilitated by the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) program, has drawn participants from various African nations, with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) being a significant beneficiary. Both the JOOTRH Histopathology Laboratory and the Clinical Research Center of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), conveniently located within JOOTRH, serve as the designated, state-of-the-art training sites.
This collaborative forum brings together a diverse and highly skilled cohort of medical professionals: pathologists, medical laboratory technicians, technologists, and scientists deeply involved in the intricate processing of Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) specimens for histology, microbiology, and molecular diagnostics. Crucially, leaders and principal investigators of MITS-related processes are also part of this vital gathering, ensuring that the advancements are integrated at every level of clinical practice and research.
Transformative Impact on Patient Care and Public Health
The anticipated outcomes of this advanced training are profound, promising to reshape healthcare delivery and public health strategies:
- Accurate and Timely Diagnosis: Pathology is the bedrock of modern medicine. The vast majority of medical decisions, from guiding treatment to monitoring disease progression, hinge on accurate and timely diagnostic tests.
- Enhanced Disease Surveillance and Public Health: Pathologists are the unsung heroes in controlling disease outbreaks. Their ability to swiftly identify causative agents, characterize pathogenicity, and determine modes of transmission is indispensable for implementing targeted public health measures – from vaccination campaigns to quarantine protocols. High-quality pathology data forms the backbone of disease registries and epidemiological studies, enabling public health authorities to monitor disease prevalence, identify trends, and allocate resources effectively for prevention and control programs. Without such robust data, public health policy remains speculative.
- Cost-Effectiveness and Resource Optimization: Accurate diagnoses prevent empirical or “best-guess” treatments that can be ineffective, cause adverse side effects, and exhaust scarce resources. Knowing the specific type of cancer or infection allows for targeted, more efficient therapies.
- Strengthening Healthcare Systems and Self-Reliance: Developing local capacity means investing in and retaining skilled pathologists, laboratory technologists, and support staff. This fosters a sustainable healthcare workforce capable of addressing local health challenges effectively. It also reduces Africa’s reliance on external aid or the costly and time-consuming practice of sending specimens abroad for testing, building self-sufficiency and resilience.
- Advancing Research and Medical Knowledge: Local pathologists are uniquely positioned to understand the specific disease patterns and challenges within their communities. This enables context-specific research that can lead to tailored diagnostic solutions and new treatment techniques. Their work will also contribute significantly to the global understanding of diseases, particularly those prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, which are often understudied globally.
From Dependence to Self-Sufficiency
Historically, detailed diagnostic cause-of-death information, crucial for data-to-action initiatives, was often dependent on external entities, such as the Central Pathology Laboratory of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States. This workshop marks a pivotal shift. “The time is now right for sites to provide advanced pathology testing independently,” stated a CHAMPS representative. The vision is for these regional sites to offer immunohistochemistry for infectious disease diagnostics, providing sufficient support for all CHAMPS activities and beyond.
The five-day training, running from July 7th to July 11th, 2025, is designed as a “trainer’s workshop,” combining synchronous didactic sessions with intensive practical hands-on experience. Participants are bringing MITS tissue specimens from their respective sites for analysis, with interpretations carefully benchmarked against suitable control specimens.
The learning outcomes are ambitious: mastering best histology laboratory procedures for slide preparation, analyzing stained slides to identify structures and pathogens, relating immunohistochemistry to traditional histopathology, and formulating comprehensive diagnostic reports that combine diverse laboratory procedures to support the DeCoDe panel in determining final causes of death and preventing similar mortalities. Crucially, the training emphasizes enhancing the role of pathologists and laboratory professionals in maintaining total quality management through their supervisory roles, best practices, and effective communication supporting surveillance activities.
This comprehensive approach ensures that Kisumu is not just training individuals, but building an interconnected network of expertise that will serve as a centre for diagnostic excellence across Africa.
