Report of the fifth annual meeting of the network of Buruli ulcer PCR laboratories in the WHO African Region, Accra, Ghana, 23–25 October 2023

The fifth meeting of the Buruli ulcer laboratory network (BU-LABNET) for the WHO African Region was held at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) at the University of Ghana in Accra on 23–25 October 2023.

The aim of the meeting was to broaden the network’s initiatives. Preliminary work involved integrating laboratory testing for skin NTDs other than Buruli ulcer, such as cutaneous leishmaniasis, mycetoma, leprosy and yaws, while extending the network’s reach to encompass additional laboratories.

The 3-day recorded meeting received statements from network partners, presentations from various stakeholders, parallel working groups sessions and workshops , and recommendations and actions to be taken in 2024 and beyond.