The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory of Mozambique’s National Health Institute (INS) as a supranational laboratory, assigning it new responsibilities in providing technical support to other countries, particularly in disease diagnosis and surveillance.

The recognition was announced on Monday, 19 October, by the Minister of Health, Ussene Isse, during the 3rd National Conference on the Impact of Climate Change on Health, held in Maputo.

The designation allows the laboratory to join the WHO’s Global Network of Supranational Reference Laboratories for Tuberculosis, which supports national health systems in disease diagnosis, laboratory quality control, and the identification of drug-resistant cases.

“With this achievement, Mozambique takes on an increased responsibility in providing specialised technical support to other countries,” Isse said.

According to the minister, the recognition is the result of investment made by the government, through the Ministry of Health, in strengthening the laboratory’s technical and scientific capabilities.

Isse also highlighted the significance of the distinction for the African continent, which, according to data presented at the conference, had only four supranational tuberculosis reference laboratories.

The announcement was made during a conference dedicated to the impact of climate change on health, held under the theme “Promoting Climate Action for Health Through the Generation of Scientific Evidence and Innovation”.