NCDC unveils laboratory to enhance malaria, infectious diseases surveillance

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has inaugurated an integrated laboratory for malaria and neglected tropical disease surveillance.

Speaking on Friday at the unveiling of the laboratory, Jide Idris, NCDC director-general (DG), said the facility will help Nigeria in its fight against infectious diseases.

Idris said the laboratory will also provide accurate, early, and comprehensive diagnosis, which will enable informed decision-making for enhanced patient care and proactive disease surveillance.

The NCDC DG thanked the Taiwanese government (TECRO), the United States Center for Disease Control (US-CDC), the CDC Foundation, and APIN for their technical and financial support of the project.

“On behalf of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), I extend a warm welcome to everyone gathered here today to witness the launch of our integrated disease reference laboratory for malaria, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), mycotic infections, and other diseases of public health importance here at the central public health laboratory (CPHL) in Lagos,” Idris said.

“Nigeria has one of the highest diversity and burden of public health diseases with global significance in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Hence, the establishment of this integrated laboratory diagnosis facility will be a game-changer in the fight against infectious diseases of public health importance in Nigeria.

“As we mark this significant milestone, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Taiwanese government (TECRO) through our strategic partners, the US-CDC, CDC Nigeria, CDC Foundation, and APIN, for the technical and financial resources, your commitment, your support, and all you are set to do to see to the realisation of this project.”

Also speaking, Will Stevens, the United States consul general in Nigeria, said the project is a step in the right direction, noting that the “world needs African solutions to global problems”.

“This is critically important because, by bringing health care to the people and bolstering Nigeria’s capacity as a key player, so much of what is happening in Lagos expands to the broader region of West Africa.”