The Team continued its strategic collaboration with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) by supporting the final phase of the Quality Management System (QMS) Exit Audit across the fifteen (15) selected ECEWS-supported laboratories in Akwa Ibom State on 22nd of June 2026. Building on earlier phases of the assessment, five audit teams were simultaneously deployed to evaluate laboratories’ compliance with national QMS standards and determine their readiness for certification. Laboratories attaining a minimum three-star (3-star) rating have been qualified to advance to the next stage of the national accreditation process, reinforcing continuous quality improvement and strengthening the delivery of reliable diagnostic services across supported facilities. 

The successful completion of this phase of the exit audit further demonstrates ECEWS’ commitment to institutionalizing quality management systems within laboratory services and supporting the Government of Nigeria’s drive toward nationally accredited laboratory networks. Through sustained technical assistance, mentorship, and collaboration with MLSCN, the project continues to strengthen laboratory systems, improve compliance with national standards, and enhance the capacity of health facilities to provide high-quality, accurate, and timely diagnostic services. 

Complementing this milestone, members of the ECEWS Laboratory Team were successfully certified by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) as Quality Management System (QMS) Implementers and Auditors following their participation in the national certification process. This achievement officially authorizes the team to conduct internal laboratory quality assessments, mentor supported facilities, identify quality improvement opportunities, and provide technical oversight in line with national QMS requirements. The certification significantly enhances ECEWS’ in-house capacity to sustain laboratory quality improvement initiatives and provide long-term technical support to laboratories as they progress toward full accreditation.