Harare, Zimbabwe, 11 June 2025 - The International Organization for Migration (IOM), yesterday launched a state-of-the-art tuberculosis (TB) laboratory at its Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC) in Harare, significantly contributing to Zimbabwe’s capacity to detect and manage TB cases efficiently.

"Timely and accurate TB diagnosis is essential to saving lives and preventing the spread of infection," said Ms. Diana Cartier, IOM Zimbabwe Chief of Mission. "This new laboratory not only streamlines health assessments for migrants but also contributes to Zimbabwe’s broader public health goals. By closing the diagnostic gap, we can ensure more people receive the treatment they need faster."

The new laboratory, designed to meet stringent technical standards by partner destination countries for which IOM has been engaged to conduct migration health assessments, will ensure high-quality, reliable diagnostic services for migrants and the broader community. Subsequently, individuals diagnosed with TB will receive appropriate treatment promptly, minimizing the risk of transmission and facilitating safe migration.

TB remains one of the leading infectious causes of death globally. According to the Global TB Report (2024), in Zimbabwe, an estimated 35,000 people developed active TB in 2023, but only 56% were diagnosed and received treatment.1The new laboratory, which offers quicker, high quality and reliable TB testing services, is a critical step in filling this diagnostic gap. At the new facility, migrants will have access to a range of TB diagnostics, including comprehensive gold-standard testing (cultures and drug susceptibility testing, or DST), which takes several weeks to receive results, as well as rapid conventional and molecular testing (MTB smear and GeneXpert) within 24 hours.

The laboratory takes part in external quality assurance (EQA) programs to uphold the highest standards of quality and guarantee accurate results. With a processing capacity of up to 1,920 samples per month, this facility will play an important role in supporting timely and appropriate treatment initiation and monitoring treatment success, ultimately enabling safe and regular migration.

As migration continues to play a key role in global connectivity, ensuring the health and safety of mobile populations is vital. The IOM TB Laboratory aligns with global health security objectives, ensuring safer migration pathways while supporting Zimbabwe’s commitment to ending TB by 2030.

For more information please contact:

Fadzai Nyamande-Pangeti fnyamandepan@iom.int (Harare) +263 787 868 608