Africa CDC launches ARILAC initiative to strengthen laboratory systems across eight African nations

ETHIOPIA—The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) , in collaboration with the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) and the European Union, has officially launched the Advancing Regional Integrated Laboratory Capacity for AMR Control (ARILAC) initiative.

This four-year project seeks to fortify microbiology laboratory systems and expand antimicrobial resistance surveillance across the continent using an integrated One Health approach.

Addressing a critical public health challenge

Antimicrobial resistance remains one of the most pressing threats to global health today, directly affecting healthcare delivery, food security, and economic stability.

The ARILAC initiative will help participating African nations strengthen their microbiology laboratories to detect and control AMR while improving clinical care.

Eight African Union member states—Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Gabon, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zimbabwe—will participate in the project over the next four years.

Bridging a dangerous diagnostic gap

A significant challenge confronts the continent: Africa faces a severe diagnostic gap in AMR testing.

A recent Africa CDC and ASLM study examining over 50,000 medical laboratories across 14 African countries revealed a stark reality.

Only 1.3% of these facilities conduct routine bacteriological testing for AMR priority pathogens, leaving approximately 261 million people without access to adequate AMR testing services.

Dr Yenew Kebede, Acting Director of the Centre for Laboratory Diagnostics and Systems at Africa CDC, warned that without immediate action, this gap will expand as populations grow.

Currently, only 20% of African medical laboratories use automated systems for pathogen identification or antimicrobial susceptibility testing, hindering rapid diagnosis and weakening evidence-based treatment decisions.

ARILAC directly tackles this challenge by upgrading laboratory networks, introducing modern diagnostic technologies, enhancing quality assurance, and integrating laboratory data with national and continental surveillance systems.

Practical support for laboratory strengthening

Through ARILAC, ASLM will provide participating nations with tangible support to modernize their AMR laboratory systems.

This includes conducting comprehensive laboratory assessments, developing updated surveillance guidelines, offering supervision and mentorship, and enabling participation in regional quality assessment schemes.

The initiative will also expand biobanking capacity and facilitate wider access to automated systems for bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Commitment to sustainability

The project’s official kick-off meeting took place from May 6–7, 2026, at Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Representatives from national public health institutes, clinical and veterinary microbiology laboratories, AMR surveillance teams, regional organizations and development partners convened to align on objectives, define roles, and establish implementation approaches.

Dr. Claudes Kamenga, Chief of Staff at Africa CDC, emphasized that sustainability must be central to the project’s success.

He urged Member States to take full ownership of implementation and integrate laboratory systems into national budgets for lasting impact.

The EU reaffirmed its backing for the initiative as part of the Team Europe Initiative on Sustainable Health Security, recognizing that investments in laboratory capacity and skilled professionals strengthen Africa’s ability to detect AMR threats and respond effectively.