The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has unveiled an Integrated Disease Testing and Surveillance Laboratory for Malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and other infectious diseases.
The NCDC’s Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, during the unveiling at the NCDC Central Public Health Laboratory in Yaba, Lagos, said that the laboratory was aimed at strengthening the fight against diseases of public health importance in the country.
Idris said the integrated laboratory would be a game-changer in the fight against infectious diseases of public health importance to the country.
Idris said the establishment of the laboratory was made possible through partnerships with the U.S. Consulate Mission in Nigeria, the CDC Foundation, Public Health Initiative (APIN), and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in Nigeria.
Idris said: “Nigeria has one of the highest diversity and burden of public health diseases with global significance in sub-Saharan Africa and response to diagnosis-related challenges for infectious diseases.
“We have identified the need to develop capacity for advanced diagnostic services and laboratory-based surveillance capacity for NTDs, malaria, mycotic diseases, and similar diseases of public health importance.
“The establishment of this integrated laboratory diagnosis facility will be a game-changer in the fight against infectious diseases by providing accurate, early, and comprehensive diagnosis and informative decision-making for enhanced patient care.
“It will ensure proactive disease surveillance, outbreak management, optimise antimicrobial stewardship.
“It will also ensure reduced antimicrobial resistance, inform research and development for new diagnostic tests and treatments, improve patient safety, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance global health security through rapid detection and response”.
The DG expressed gratitude to the U.S. CDC, CDC Foundation, APIN, and TECRO for their commitment and support to complement the effort of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to enhance the country’s health sector.
Speaking also, the representative of the U.S. Consul General to Nigeria, Mr Will Stevens, said Nigeria had one of the highest burdens of global malaria cases and deaths, noting that the establishment of the integrated laboratory was critical.
Stevens said there was a need to provide solutions to Africa’s problem, noting that the country’s response and resilience in curbing the spread of Ebola and COVID-19 outbreak were impressive.
“Nigeria is a regional leader, and as leaders, we need more African solutions to these problems and African solutions to global problems.
“This laboratory will bring world-class healthcare, world-class research, world-class monitoring and detection systems to the people of Nigeria and allow Nigerians to continue to be a global leader”, he said.
Also, the Chief of Mission to the Taiwanese Government in Nigeria, Andy Liu, said it was an honour for Taiwan government to collaborate with the U.S. and the CDC Foundation to support and strengthen the Nigerian health system through the establishment of a laboratory and donation of world-class equipment.
“This is significant, and it is important for the international body to help build a world class laboratory with advanced equipment for Nigerians.
“We are looking forward to more collaboration to build more capacity in the health sector and strengthen our relationship with the country”, he said.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi described the establishment of the integrated laboratory as a move in the right direction.
Abayomi emphasised the importance of collaboration in strengthening and building capacity to address health challenges affecting the country.
Speaking also, the Senior Programme Officer of CDC Foundation, Cassandra Webster, said the partnership with the NCDC, CDC Nigeria, and other collaborators would help strengthen the public health infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to Webster, the gesture will boost Nigeria’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats in the country.
“I’m glad to be here for the launch of such an important partnership. The CDC Foundation is an independent, U.S.-based nonprofit body created by the U.S. Congress to help advance and extend the life-saving work of the CDC and public health through public-private partnerships.
“This continued progress against malaria and neglected tropical diseases is critical to saving lives and our efforts to strengthen this laboratory using advanced technology.
“I thank TECRO for their critical and generous support for this important effort, and I also want to thank the CDC Nigeria and NCDC teams for their partnership”, she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that advanced medical equipment was donated to the NCDC for the establishment of an integrated laboratory.
