African Innovation at Work: Dr. Safiatu Coulibaly turns HIV labs into cancer diagnostic hubs

A champion of African Voices of Sciences (AVoS) is urging African governments and scientists to take ownership of their research infrastructure and invest in local diagnostic capabilities if the continent is to reclaim its health sovereignty.

Spearheaded by Speak Up, AVoS provides a platform for African scientists and health experts to share reliable information, promote local research and influence policy.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with JoyNews on the sidelines of the Galien Africa Forum 2025 in Dakar, Senegal, a Champion of the AVoS II and Coordinator of the Genetics and Cancer Laboratory in Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Safiatu Coulibaly lamented the overreliance on Western laboratories for essential diagnostic tests, describing it as a costly setback to Africa’s healthcare advancement.

“We used to think that Africa’s main health challenge was infectious diseases like malaria, HIV or TB,” she said.

“But today, non-communicable diseases such as cancer are becoming a major concern. Governments provide free treatment for patients, but diagnosis, which determines the right treatment, is often unavailable locally. That must change.”

Upon her return to Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Safiatou Coulibaly discovered that existing medical equipment previously reserved for infectious disease testing could be adapted for cancer diagnostics. Her team used HIV laboratory machines to conduct cancer tests at three to four times lower cost than those sent abroad.

“Before now, our people had to send samples to Europe or the U.S. at very high prices,” she explained.

“Today, we’re able to perform those same tests in Côte d’Ivoire, making diagnosis more accessible to ordinary people.”

However, the innovation remains limited to Côte d’Ivoire. Attempts to extend the service to neighboring countries like Burkina Faso have been hindered by the absence of regional legal frameworks for health research cooperation.

“We realized we had no legal basis for cross-border collaboration,” Dr. Coulibaly added. “That’s why we scientists must speak with one voice and push for frameworks that allow us to share resources and research across Africa.”

Dr. Safiatou Coulibaly’s call echoes the broader message championed by the African Voices of Science (AVoS), an initiative led by Speak Up Africa, which was a central feature of this year’s Galien Africa Forum.

The platform, which was established five years ago, aims to promote African-led research and innovation, increase visibility of African expertise, and influence policy and investment in homegrown solutions.

During the intergenerational debate themed “What If Science Brought Generations Closer Together?” AVoS champions from both the Millennial and Gen Z cohorts underscored the urgency for Africa to own its research ecosystem.

Speakers emphasized reducing bureaucracies in scientific regulation, fostering mentorship between older and younger researchers, and leveraging technology to bridge generational and institutional gaps.

A panelist passionately argued that “importing health products is equivalent to importing health itself,” highlighting the need to produce medicines and medical innovations locally to ensure true sovereignty.

As Dr. Coulibaly puts it, the path forward lies in collaboration and courage:

“Africa has the talent, the technology, and the will. We just need to trust our systems, mutualize our resources, and believe in our own capacity to lead.”

The Galien Africa Forum 2025 ended in Dakar with scientists, policymakers, and innovators exploring pathways for the continent to take charge of its health, research, and development destiny.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.