With 28 state-of-the-art laboratories in various African countries, DREAM has achieved remarkable milestones: to date, three laboratories have obtained SADCAS accreditation, the most prestigious recognition for diagnostic services in Africa. In particular, the laboratories in Blantyre and Balaka, Malawi, are the only ones in the country to be accredited and to provide free services to the public, even in extremely challenging rural settings. This is a true accomplishment, the result of ten years of consistent and rigorous work.

Accreditation not only certifies technical competence, but also ensures reliability, transparency, and safety for patients, institutional partners, and the scientific community. It is an achievement that does not seek publicity, but reflects a deep respect for the lives of patients.

In this spirit, recent training on the use of the Point of Care device at the DREAM laboratory at the Sant’Egidio Center in Zimpeto, Mozambique, is also significant. The aim is to improve diagnostic response times in the context of Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), a key activity in the fight against HIV in children.

The Point of Care device, designed to carry out quick and reliable tests right next to the patient, was introduced to enhance both the speed and quality of test results. As part of the training, the DREAM lab staff took part in two days of theoretical and practical sessions, covering both technical aspects and the daily use of the instrument, including the collection, preparation, and management of blood sample tubes for newborn screenings.

With this new equipment and the enhanced skills of the team, the Zimpeto laboratory is now capable of offering faster and more reliable diagnostic services. This marks a significant step that aligns perfectly with the vision of DREAM: to make high-quality healthcare services accessible even in the poorest areas, where health is often a luxury and children’s futures depend on timely diagnoses and immediate care.