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Abstract

Introduction: Uganda is one of the Phase one prioritized countries by Global Health Security Agenda tasked to develop an interagency roadmap for establishment of robust biosafety and biosecurity systems and networks. Several initiatives have been undertaken by the Central Public Health Laboratories-Ministry of Health in partnership with partners to strengthen bio risk management utilizing a multispectral approach. The program performance was monitored through uncoordinated, facility specific supervisory visits focused on a relatively narrow and specific component of biosafety and biosecurity. This study utilized a national standardized quantifiable tool that enabled assessment of comprehensive status of the national biosafety biosecurity performance, comparison of BRM performance across service delivery levels and guide the development of a nationwide implementation roadmap.

Methodology: The national, standardized, and quantifiable score based tool was used to assess individual laboratories on bio risk management elements. The questionnaire was administered to biosafety officers, hub coordinators, lab managers, and facility in-charges of 210 public and private laboratories in 100 districts of Uganda.

Results: Overall, national bio risk management performance in both public and private laboratories scored 33%. Performance as per level of service delivery was 52% in RRH, 43% in General Hospital and <30% in HC IV and HC III and specialised labs like Uganda Blood Transfusion Services and Masaka district veterinary laboratory. Regionally, Moroto health region registered the best overall performance at 50%, followed by Kampala (42%) while Fort portal, Jinja, Lira, Mbale and Mbarara scored below 30% each.

Conclusion and recommendations: This performance renders laboratories in the country as an eminent source or recipient of bio-threats. The Ministry of Health and other stakeholders need to refocus on key strategic areas like enactment of biosafety and biosecurity law, improve on infrastructure, tripartite training and increase awareness by establishing a national Centre of excellence for biosafety and biosecurity capacity building.

Keywords: Biosafety; Biosecurity; Bio risk; Bio risk management; Bio threat; Bioterrorism