USAID helps advance Kosovo’s disease surveillance

The unfolding of the COVID-19 crisis served as a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen public health infrastructure in order to effectively navigate unforeseen health challenges. Over the past three years, USAID, in collaboration with UNICEF, has provided support to Kosovo's Ministry of Health, enhancing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This partnership has recently culminated in the delivery of eight state-of-the-art polymerase chain reaction (PCR) equipment units to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH).

"Amidst the multitude of lessons brought about by the pandemic, one clear realization is that all stakeholders - governmental bodies, donors, and citizens alike - must prioritize a steadfast commitment to developing and continuously enhancing health systems. This collective effort ensures our readiness to effectively and swiftly counter new diseases, including potential future pandemics," emphasized acting USAID Mission Director Ken Collins during the donation ceremony.

This collection of cutting-edge equipment, harnessing the power of real-time PCR technology, has been meticulously designed to facilitate the rapid detection of various respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, influenza, Streptococcus A, and other infectious illnesses such as Tuberculosis. These eight PCR units will be strategically distributed across the central institute, six regional centers, and the laboratory of the Infectious Diseases Clinic at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo. The combined value of this equipment, which will play a pivotal role in advancing disease surveillance, preparedness, and control, amounts to an investment of $365,000 USD.

This donation is an outcome of a concentrated focus on improving access to COVID-19 vaccines and testing. Moreover, the partnership has undertaken substantial measures to bolster the capabilities of the NIPH in disease surveillance and epidemic readiness.