Sidvokodvo – Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla praised The Luke Commission during the Medical Laboratory Accreditation Handover Ceremony held at the organisation’s Sidvokodvo campus, where TLC celebrated earning the ISO 15189 2022 accreditation. The certification is the first of its kind for a comprehensive hospital based laboratory in Eswatini and marks a major milestone in the country’s pursuit of world class healthcare.
Dladla described TLC as a movement built on compassion and hard work. She thanked the team for caring for emaSwati, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly and persons with disabilities. She told guests that the new accreditation means the laboratory results used by doctors nationwide are now recognised as globally reliable, a development she said strengthens trust and dignity for every patient.
She also spoke about the Luvelo Digital Health Platform which recently received recognition in London. She said Luvelo is enabling healthcare access for people in even the most remote communities and demonstrates that innovation developed in Eswatini can make an international impact. The DPM added that the partnership between government and TLC continues to deliver care grounded in dignity, compassion and excellence.
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo congratulated TLC, calling the achievement a national victory for Eswatini. He said the certification is not only a milestone for TLC but also for the country since accreditation represents competence, accuracy and reliability, which form the foundation of quality healthcare.
Khumalo acknowledged Managing Executive Director Echo VanderWal and her team for their commitment, saying they have positioned TLC for global recognition. He announced that TLC’s laboratory now ranks as the fifth medical laboratory and the sixteenth overall in Eswatini to secure accreditation. He said this strengthens trust, boosts efficiency and enhances the country’s competitiveness both locally and internationally.
Khumalo added that the recognition of Luvelo by the Financial Times and the World Bank Group confirms that Eswatini’s innovation can thrive on the global stage. He said the country is ready to demonstrate what it can achieve collectively as the world pays closer attention to its progress.
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