During the 2024–2025 biennium, PAHO made a decisive contribution to the comprehensive strengthening of the national laboratory network, consolidating critical capacities for preparedness against epidemic and pandemic threats.

Through specialized technical cooperation, PAHO supported the training of personnel from human and animal health laboratories in key areas such as biosafety, quality management, molecular biology, and genomic sequencing, thereby improving the early detection and timely diagnosis of pathogens with epidemic potential.

These efforts were complemented by the provision of equipment to prioritized laboratories at various levels of the health system, expanding territorial coverage and reducing diagnostic turnaround times. A structural element of this achievement was the institutionalization of PCR protocols through national regulations, consolidating homogeneous, sustainable technical standards aligned with international best practices.

Taken together, these actions strengthen the country’s epidemiological and genomic surveillance, reduce the risk of undetected outbreaks, and enhance early response capacity, directly contributing to health security and health system resilience in the face of high‑impact emergencies.