To bolster Nigeria’s public health infrastructure, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (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 (CPHL) in Yaba, Lagos on Friday, said the laboratory will help Nigeria in the fight against infectious diseases of public health importance.
The advanced medical equipment for the establishment of an integrated laboratory was donated through the support of the U.S mission, CDC, CDC Foundation, APIN, and TECRO.
Idris said the state-of-the-art facility will provide accurate, early, and comprehensive diagnosis, which will enable informed decision-making for enhanced patient care and proactive disease surveillance.
He highlighted the transformative impact of the state-of-the-art facility, noting its potential to provide accurate, early, and comprehensive diagnoses, that will enable informed decision-making, enhance patient care, support proactive disease surveillance, improve outbreak management, optimize antimicrobial stewardship, reduce antimicrobial resistance, and inform research and development for new diagnostic tests and treatments.
He 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, which complement the efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to enhance the country’s health sector.
In his remark, the United States Consul General in Nigeria, Will Stevens said the project is a step in the right direction, because Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of global malaria cases and deaths.
Stevens emphasized the importance of finding solutions to Africa’s challenges, highlighting the country’s impressive response and resilience in controlling the spread of Ebola and the COVID-19 outbreak.
“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.
The Chief of Mission to the Taiwanese Government in Nigeria, Andy Liu, expressed that it was an honor for Taiwan to partner with the U.S. and the CDC Foundation in supporting and enhancing the Nigerian health system through the establishment of a laboratory and the 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, praised the establishment of the integrated laboratory, calling it a significant step forward.
Abayomi emphasised the importance of collaboration in strengthening and building capacity to address health challenges affecting the country.
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,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, represented by Head of Clinics, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Oladimeji Omisakin, praised the initiative as a groundbreaking project.
He emphasised the importance of advanced surveillance and testing mechanisms in managing malaria and other neglected tropical diseases, noting that these tools will significantly enhance evidence-based management in Nigeria.
Lamuwa expressed deep gratitude to international partners for their support and to Nigerian partners for taking ownership of this visionary project.
He highlighted the potential for the laboratory to set a precedent for future facilities across other regions in Nigeria
