The lab will accelerate diagnoses and improve patient care at PIH-supported Koidu Government Hospital
PIH Sierra Leone Lab Technician James Koroma (left), Lab Technician Elizabeth Gbondo (center), and Volunteer Sahr Solomon Foryoh (right) in the recently opened microbiology lab at Koidu Government Hospital on February 6, 2025. Photo by Chiara Herold / PIH
In rural Sierra Leone, Partners In Health (PIH)—in collaboration with the country’s Ministry of Health—recently opened a cutting-edge microbiology lab. Its impact was immediately felt by staff and patients alike: quicker diagnoses, improved treatment, and early interventions to stop disease outbreaks within the hospital—all while contributing to the global fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
According to the World Health Organization, AMR is one of the biggest threats to global health and neglecting it could undo a century of medical advancements. The AMR process occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi evolve, making medications used to treat the infections they cause ineffective. Due to their clinically resistant abilities, these microorganisms are often termed “superbugs”.
In 2019, global estimates showed that AMR directly caused 1.27 million deaths and contributed to the loss of 4.95 million lives. Moreover, Sub-Saharan Africa is disproportionately affected due to limited resources and infrastructure, which has resulted in fragmented health systems, limited data, and weak laboratory systems for surveillance and containment.
PIH Sierra Leone is committed to preventing AMR by reducing infections that could contribute to the misuse of antibiotics, improving access to accurate diagnoses and proper treatment, while also driving innovation and data use. These commitments led to the major renovation of the laboratory, which officially opened on December 16 at PIH-supported Koidu Government Hospital (KGH).
Informed decision-making, shorter wait times
A well-equipped and functioning laboratory “acts as an eye for the doctor,” says Saffiatou Darboe, a clinical microbiologist and diagnostics lead at KGH. She explains, “With the right information from the labs, clinicians can prescribe the right antibiotics, dosage, and duration.” This eliminates the reliance on empirical treatment, which involves the prescription of medication based solely on a clinician’s experience and a patient’s reaction to a course of antibiotics. Instead, with the correct equipment, clinicians can gain a clear picture of the underlying bacteria causing an illness.
Saffiatu Darboe, clinical microbiologist and diagnostics lead for PIH Sierra Leone, handles a Petri dish in the microbiology lab at Koidu Government Hospital. Photo by Chiara Herold / PIH
“Clinicians can now make informed decisions,” Darboe adds.
At KGH, when doctors suspect a condition, they’re now able to use the lab to confirm the diagnosis and receive recommendations for effective antibiotics. This process is supported by a specific test—called “biogram”—that identifies which antibiotics are most and least effective in treating infections in a specific region.
Before the microbiology lab opened, transporting blood cultures to the nearest lab was a complicated and time-consuming process. “We would prepare the samples, request a vehicle, and then wait for approval. It would take two hours to reach Makeni, and sometimes we had to send them to Freetown, which is nearly six hours away,” says Yusuf Othman Sheriff, lab manager at PIH Sierra Leone.
Today, the new lab serves as a central hub for the hospital, providing test results for all departments within a standard turnaround time that ranges from 24 to 72 hours.
Aligning with international standards
The new lab has cutting-edge technology and advanced tools to enable quicker detection of microorganisms, even in patients undergoing antibiotic treatment. These advancements also improve laboratory efficiency by minimizing hands-on time and providing faster reporting.
“The equipment we have here is unlike what you’ll find in other parts of Sierra Leone. If you visit labs in other cities, it’s clear that this lab is far ahead, ” Sheriff notes.
However, even with new technologies, Darboe believes it’s important to incorporate traditional methods. “I tell my students that while speed is good, microbiologists need to maintain certain manual skills which are essential when automation isn’t an option,” says Darboe, who oversees the training of lab staff and interns at KGH and gives an annual lecture on newer microbiology diagnostic technologies at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Setting up a lab like this requires careful consideration of the context. Darboe highlights that across Africa, many labs remain inactive, with equipment unused because it was donated or purchased without considering key factors. “Assess the region’s needs, choose equipment whose maintenance is possible, ensure there is reliable electricity, and that necessary reagents can be sourced,” she emphasizes.
After successfully establishing a lab in a low-resource region, the team is now setting even bigger goals. They are working toward achieving an international accreditation that outlines the requirements for quality and competence in medical laboratories. A key part of this process involves investing in quality management systems, capacity building, and providing leadership and soft skills training such as communication and teamwork for scientists.
The new microbiology lab is already making a tangible difference in patient care. As Darboe shared, “Just recently, we suspected an outbreak at the special care baby unit (SCBU) from some data coming from the lab. They had previously suspected it and sent samples to Makeni. But we have a lab now, so we can just process the samples.” This means the SCBU can get real-time data, and clinicians are able to intervene early enough to stop the transmission and create control measures.
Source; https://www.pih.org/article/local-solutions-global-impact-new-microbiology-lab-opens-sierra-leone