In a remarkable stride toward unparalleled quality and service in medical laboratory sciences, the Namibia Institute of Pathology Limited (NIP) has firmly positioned itself among the elite, securing international recognition for significant quality improvement through the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM).
The announcement, which reverberated through the corridors of the Cape Town International Convention Centre, was made during the highly anticipated 6th Biennial Conference of the ASLM, held from December 12 to 15, 2023.
Currently, a total of 14 NIP laboratories have been accredited by the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service (SADCAS), aligning with the prestigious international standard ISO 15189.
In the drive to ensure that most of the NIP laboratories are accredited, 34 laboratories were enrolled on the Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation (SLMTA) and Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) programmes. The implementation of the SLIPTA quality auditing framework, has been coupled with the SLMTA training programme which is designed to empower laboratory managers to initiate immediate laboratory quality improvement measures. Both programmes are tailor made for use in resource limited setting characteristics of most developing countries thereby accelerating the quality improvement journey towards accreditation.
Therefore, this award acknowledges the outstanding accomplishment of 38% of SLMTA laboratories achieving accreditation.
The award certificate was received last week by the NIP’s Chief Executive Officer, Kapena Tjombonde who said that “this accolade is not just a statistic; but rather a testament to NIP’s unwavering commitment to excellence.”
She further stated that the “accreditation to the ISO 15189 standard is not merely a badge but a rigorous endorsement of a laboratory’s technical competence, ensuring the reliability, accuracy, and timeliness of test results.”
For NIP’s clients, this translates into a myriad of tangible benefits, and they can now experience an even greater sense of confidence and peace of mind. The ISO 15189 international accreditation is synonymous with global best practices in the pathology testing industry. It ensures that every test conducted, and every result delivered meets the highest benchmarks of accuracy and reliability – a non-negotiable necessity in healthcare and research.
Tjombonde further states that “the journey to accreditation is continuous, reflecting NIP’s dedication to perpetual growth and improvement. Clients of NIP are partners in this journey, reaping the benefits of services that are consistently evolving, innovating, and leading the charge in laboratory medicine.”
NIP’s remarkable achievement of being ranked among the top African countries with many accredited laboratories is not just a milestone but a clear indicator of its commitment to excellence, quality, and best client service.
As NIP continues to forge ahead, its clients can look forward to a partnership that is anchored in trust, quality, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
ASLM is an independent, international, organisation that coordinates, galvanises and mobilises relevant stakeholders at all levels to improve local access to world-class medical diagnostic services and ensure healthy African communities. It is the first pan-African society for laboratory professionals, endorsed by the African Union (AU) and supported by multiple African Ministries of Health through its Ministerial Call for Action.
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