Windhoek, 28th September 2026
Accurate diagnosis is the first and most critical step in fighting infectious disease. Long delays in identifying malaria, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, or maternal and child health conditions can mean the difference between timely treatment and preventable harm. This is where Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostics are changing the game — bringing fast, reliable, laboratory-quality testing directly to the patient’s bedside, clinic, or community, even in settings without access to a central laboratory. Advanced POC tools, from ultrasensitive immunoassays to multianalyte panels and next-generation sequencing, are making it possible to detect disease earlier, treat it faster, and ultimately save more lives.
To explore these developments, the Finnish Southern Africa Cooperation Institute (FSAI), together with the FinNam Research Academy and the University of Namibia, is proud to host a one-day seminar:
“Point-of-Care Diagnostics: The Present and Future Possibilities”
Date: Monday, 28th September 2026
Venue: Namibia Scientific Society, Windhoek
The day brings together leading researchers and clinicians from Finland, India, and Namibia to share the latest technologies and experiences in POC testing for infectious diseases, tuberculosis, malaria, sexually transmitted infections, and maternal and child health — followed by a panel discussion on improving diagnosis in primary health care.
We warmly invite all friends of FSAI to join us, whether in person in Windhoek or online. Further details on the full programme, speakers, and registration will be shared in due course — so watch this space!
Programme
08.55 Welcome
Session 1: POC-diagnostic tests in major infective diseases
Chair: Prof Kalervo Väänänen
09.00 Prof Kim Pettersson, Finland: Different technologies applied in POC testing
09.30 Prof Antti Hakanen, Finland: Can point-of-care diagnosis substitute central laboratories:
Present situation and future visions. Antti Hakanen
10.00 PhD Gaurav Batra, India: Ultrasensitive and Robust Point-of-Care Immunoassay for the
Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria
10.30 Coffee and tea break
11.00 Prof Mareli Claassens, UNAM: POC diagnostics in tuberculosis.
11.30 Prof Emmanuel Nepolo, UNAM: Next Generation Sequencing in diagnostics; tbc as an
example.
12.00-13.00 Lunch
Session 2: Experiences of Multianalyte Panels
Chair: Prof Olli Vainio
13.00 PhD Janne Koskinen, ArcDia Ltd: Experiences from multianalyte panels of antigen tests.
13.30 What would be an optimal POC- panel for sexually transmitted diseases? Chairperson will
challenge the audience to create a good suggestion!
14.00 Prof Jussi Mertsola, Finland: Integrated Point of care diagnostics in Maternal and Child Health
Primary Care
14.30 Coffee break
15.00 PhD Janne Koskinen, ArcDia Ltd: How to arrange data integration. An example from Finland.
15.30-16.25 Panel discussion. Moderators: Prof Claassens and Prof Kalervo Väänänen
How to improve diagnosis of infectious disease using POC-diagnostics in the primary health care
16.25 Closing remarks
