WHO hands over new Polio Modular Laboratory to UCH

dimeji akinloye

November 17, 2016 11:13 PM

The health body said the new modular laboratory will support diagnosis of many viral infections.

Volunteer Health officials wait to immunise children at a school in Nigeria's capital Abuja.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) will on Friday, November 18, hand over a new

This is contained in a statement issued by the agency’s country office in Abuja.

The agency stated that the laboratory was purchased with a grant from the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID) to support polio eradication activities in Nigeria.

It said that the new modular laboratory, a standard BSL2 laboratory, will support diagnosis of many viral infections like measles, rubella, rotavirus, yellow fever and dengue fever, among others.

"The Department of Virology, UI, is important in the fight against polio. It has single-handedly processed all Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) samples from states in the country.

"This is before the Maiduguri laboratory was accredited to support polio activities by WHO in 2001," it said.

It said that the new laboratory will expectedly increase the workspace and pave way for expansion of environmental surveillance in Nigeria.

It stated that Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health, who accented the donation of the modular laboratory as the Vice Chancellor of the university, is expected as special guest of honour.

Also expected are Dr Rex Mpazanje, Acting WHO Country Representative and the US Consul General to Nigeria, among others.

dimeji akinloye