Samwel Mulungu

Accomplished professional in diagnostic systems strengthening, specializing in TB/HIV diagnostics with a proven track record at PATH-Tanzania and HJFMRI. Successfully led quality improvement initiatives that enhanced national diagnostic networks in alignment with GLI and IHR standards. Core competencies include Quality Management systems, project leadership, and effective communication, dedicated to advancing healthcare diagnostics through innovative solutions.

• Spearheaded the introduction of Truenat diagnostic technology in Tanzania.
• Coordinated Tanzania's first TB Diagnostic Network Assessment using the WHO TB-Net tool.
• Coordinated and led 11 national Laboratory Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings.
• Established a partnership between Tanzania’s Central TB Reference Laboratory (CTRL) and Uganda Supra National TB Reference Laboratory for EQA production.
• Served as an external consultant for TB Diagnostic Network Assessments in Ethiopia and Uganda.
• Co-developed a TB contingency plan ensuring continuity of services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Pioneered implementation of GeneXpert MTB/RIF technology in Tanzania as a trained national GeneXpert super-user/ToT.
• Spearheaded implementation of TB molecular diagnostics digital connectivity solution through a UNOPS Stop TB funding (achieving 94% of diagnostic connectivity).
• Managed budgets and work plans amounting USD 7 million throughout my career.

• English, Fluent, Fluent, Fluent
• Swahili, Native, Native, Native
• French, Basic, Basic, Basic

• Dr. Siril Kullaya, Project Director, USAID-IDDS, skullaya@path.org, +255 754 217 285
• Lusubilo Malakibungu, Technical Officer, WHO, malakbungul@who.int, +417 794 37471
• Ali Kwizera, MPH, TB Diagnostics Advisor, USAID, akwizera@usaid.gov, +1 771 444 1458

• Project Management in Global Health-University of Washington
• Monitoring and Evaluation in Global Health-University of Washington
• Leadership and Management in Global Health-University of Washington
• Digital X-ray systems and Mobile clinic set up-Molbio, Goa India
• Truenat training micro-PCR system for TB diagnosis-Molbio, Goa-India
• Advanced TB diagnostic Course-McGill summer institute in infectious disease and Global health
• Quality Management System (QMS) for medical laboratories (ISO 15189)
• Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)-HJFMRI
• Training guide for providing technical support to TB laboratories in low- and middle-income countries
• Advanced training on the GeneXpert MTB/RIF Technology-Cepheid
• Joint External Evaluation (JEE) Training for International Health Regulations (IHR)

• Serving as a co-investigator in a study investigating the causes of stagnation in the use of WHO-recommended rapid diagnostics (WRD) for bacteriologically confirmed TB cases in high-burden TB countries.
• Leading my master’s dissertation research on factors associated with the underutilization of molecular WHO Recommended Rapid Diagnostics (mWRD) in confirming bacteriological TB cases in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
• Co-investigating a continuous quality improvement initiative on TB patient services through the Clinic-Laboratory Interface in Tanzania.
• Leading the TB Diagnostic Network Assessment in Tanzania and serving as an external consultant for similar assessments in Ethiopia and Uganda, providing systematic evaluations to optimize the TB diagnostic network.
• Co-investigating the diagnostic accuracy of Xpert Ultra and MTB Rif against culture as the gold standard for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Tanzania.