More Than a Laboratory
DLS has always seen its role as extending beyond the walls of the laboratory. Accurate results are the product we deliver — but health literacy is the context that allows those results to be understood and acted on. That is why we participate in health education initiatives at Mater Dei Hospital and beyond.
Our Participation in Awareness Campaigns
During health awareness weeks at Mater Dei, DLS staff man an educational stand in the hospital grounds, engaging with patients, visitors, and healthcare workers on the role of laboratory medicine in preventive and clinical care. We provide printed guides on common tests — what they measure, why they are requested, and how to interpret normal and abnormal ranges in plain language.
Popular topics include understanding the Full Blood Count, what a positive HIV test means for onward care, the difference between random and fasting glucose, and why some tests need to be repeated rather than trusted on a single result.
Interactive Demonstrations
We have found that seeing the laboratory process — even in simplified form — demystifies it for patients who are anxious about what happens to their samples. Our team demonstrates the centrifugation process, shows how vacuum collection tubes work, and explains what the different coloured tube tops mean.
If your organisation would like DLS to support a health education event, please contact us at Mater Dei Hospital, Burns Drive, Malindela, Bulawayo.