Field epidemiology and laboratory training programs have been in Africa for 10 years, what is their effect on laboratory-based surveillance? Reflections from a panel at the african society of laboratory medicine December 2014 Cape Town meeting

The authors were invited to present in a session titled ''The role of FELTPs in laboratory-based surveillance'' at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) biennial conference in December 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. This session focused on five questions: a) What is FELTP? b) What is the state of public health laboratory-based surveillance in Africa? c) Are FELTPs contributing to public health surveillance and response in Africa? d) What challenges are FELTPs facing in implementation? The following is a summary of the presentations and discussions.