Benin's Achievement in the Fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic Challenge Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, the assessments of Benin's health system revealed that the country lacks a robust surveillance system capable of monitoring common diseases. It also lacked the ability to timely trigger alarms to contain disease outbreaks or to rapidly detect and investigate abnormal clustering of cases of illness or death. Key weaknesses include the lack of a qualified and motivated health workforce; insufficient equipment and infrastructure for effective preparedness and response at each level of the health pyramid; and poorly functioning community-based surveillance. Insufficient laboratory infrastructure, equipment and reagents for timely and quality diagnosis was of particular concern. At the outset of the pandemic, COVID-19 test results were confirmed in Senegal, and patients had to wait at least three days to receive their results. The various information systems did not communicate with one other, thus preventing effective monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, infection prevention and control standards were inadequate.