OF NOTE THIS WEEK

African health officials meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, signed off on an accreditation process for medical labs throughout the region -- a project supported by PEPFAR, the WHO's Regional Office for Africa, and other groups, Voice of America reports. Officials from 13 African countries, including Uganda and Zambia, agreed to certify that labs meet international quality control standards. Just a handful of Africa's laboratories are now accredited, in part because the existing international accreditation process is so time-consuming, explains Medical News Today. Many laboratories lack equipment, proper funding, adequate training for lab workers, and systematic management of work.

NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DONORS

• A UNAIDS report examines how public-private partnerships -- such as PEPFAR's Phones for Health initiative -- strengthen health systems and responses to AIDS

OTHER NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

• Global Fund Says Africa Has Had 'Extraordinary Success' in AIDS Fight (AFP)
• Uganda: Crisis as ARVs Run Out (New Vision)
• Uganda Investigates HIV Patients' Deaths (AP/mLive)
• Zambia: HIV Prevention Trial to Start (All Africa)
• Container AIDS Labs Could Work across Africa, Says U.S. Company (Reuters)
• South Africa Launches New AIDS Research (AP)

RECENT CGD HEALTH POLICY BLOGS

• If You Drive, I'll Pay for Gas: Critical Developments in Ownership and Financing of the National HIV/AIDS Response By David Wendt
• Task-Shifting Can Be Part of the Answer to ART Access – If the Numbers of Lower Level Health Workers Expand Fast Enough By Mead Over
• Keeping Up with U.S. Health Reform - Can We Do Better than China? By Mead Over