US Govt Donates Laboratory Equipment to Support Nigeria’s Outbreak Response Efforts

The United States government has pledged continued support for Nigeria’s public health infrastructure through disease surveillance, emergency response and laboratory capacity.

The U.S. Charge’ d’ Affaires, David Greene, restated this on Friday while presenting equipment donated to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC) National Reference Laboratory in Abuja.

He explained that Nigeria was currently facing several ongoing disease outbreaks, including Lassa Fever, Diphtheria, and Meningitis, and that the items would play a vital role in effectively detecting and confirming cases.

Mr. Greene, who was represented by Dr. Farah Husain, Programme Director, Division of Global Health Protection of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said the items comprised personal protection equipment, PPE, bio-safety containment equipment and other essential commodities.

Whether in the subnational labs, health facilities, or communities they serve, this donation will directly help save lives. The United States is committed to working hand-in-hand with Nigeria to build response capacity and protect the health of our peoples,” she said.

Receiving the equipment, the Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Jide Idris, appreciated the U.S. government’s donation and emphasised the significance of the items in fortifying Nigeria’s health security.

The NCDC DG, who also said the items would boost the morale of staff at the National Reference Laboratory, expressed the hope of a continued relationship between the two countries.

On Nigeria’s overreliance on foreign donations, Dr. Idris explained that health security was a global issue that one country could not handle in isolation.

 

April 12, 2024