US equips Nigeria’s laboratory to strengthen partnership on disease prevention
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A biorepository laboratory of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) at Central Public Health Laboratory in Yaba, Lagos has been upgraded and expanded with support from United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC).
The US CDC provided equipment and medical supplies and also supported the training of staff of the NCDC to improve local capacity in managing the laboratory.
US Consul General Will Stevens joined Nigerian public health officials at the commissioning of the project, which was financed through the US COVID-19 CARES Act funds.
Stevens said the facility will support Nigeria’s disease control efforts through the cataloguing and storing of blood samples for future use, such as testing to improve the detection and surveillance of new, emerging, and reemerging diseases.
He expressed optimism that the biorepository laboratory will facilitate Nigeria’s readiness for future epidemic and pandemic responses.
“Today’s commissioning is a major accomplishment of the strategic partnership between the United States and Nigeria to support health security and respond to disease threats,” he said.
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Longstanding partnership
Stevens highlighted US-Nigeria longstanding partnership with Nigerian health institutions to implement key public health programs, evaluate disease surveillance and response efforts, and contribute to reinforcing the existing public health infrastructure.
“Since 2004, the United States and Nigeria have partnered to improve laboratory networks, systems, and services. These collaborations have consistently yielded results as the nation’s laboratory capacity continues to grow in quantity and quality.”
The laboratory project was implemented in partnership with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health, NCDC, and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria.
About CDC Nigeria
CDC Nigeria is the country office of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with a vision of public health excellence for healthy Nigerians.
The office supports the Nigeria’s Ministry of Health, its department, agencies, as well as state Ministries of Health, and several key partners in developing, implementing, and evaluating disease response efforts and programs that contribute to more robust public health infrastructure in the country.