The global pandemic underscored the importance of improving Africa’s capacity to detect and diagnose emerging public health threats.  African countries made remarkable contributions in the detection and sequencing of the COVID-19 virus. Despite this, laboratory and testing capacity for early detection of diseases is lacking.  With and increasing population and continued economic growth, lifestyle related diseases or NCDs are predicted to have increasing public health impacts.  Against this backdrop, it is important to build on the lessons from the pandemic to expand the capacity to detect and diagnose diseases early to reduce morbidity and mortality. It is also critical to fully integrate early detection and diagnosis into health systems design and delivery, including financing and reimbursement.  Greater coordination and data sharing across countries and regions will also help share lessons learned and best practices. This session will feature corporate and government leaders talking through the most important challenges and their potential solutions.