15/01/2020

The International Health Regulations (IHR) Strengthening Project works with partner public health institutes in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Zambia, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Pakistan and regional institutions in Africa and Asia, to strengthen their capability and capacity to comply with the WHO IHR (2005).

The project has been working in partnership with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) since 2017 to enhance national emergency preparedness, resilience and response, disease surveillance and public health laboratory capacities. 

On 14 January, staff from the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) Gaduwa, Abuja received the delivery of over 40 items including centrifuges, microscopes and biohazard spill kits. This equipment, donated by PHE as part of the IHR Strengthening Project, will support the NRL to expand diagnostic capacity for diseases of public health importance in the country including, Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, meningitis, cholera, measles, yellow fever, rubella and polio. 

PHE staff based in Nigeria, including Senior Public Health Advisor, Dr. Olusola Aruna formally ‘handed over’ the equipment to the Director of the National Reference Laboratory, Mrs. Nwando Mba in a brief ceremony following their delivery.

Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General of NCDC said of the donation: 

“The entire NCDC laboratory team is excited about the new equipment and particularly grateful for the impact it will have in expanding of diagnostic capacity for diseases of public health relevance in Nigeria.

This will serve Nigeria for many years to come and help in protecting global health security. It is just another example of the great partnership between NCDC and PHE.”

NRL staff placing reagents in the freezer at the NCDC NRL

IHR Project Country lead for Nigeria, Sola Aruna and representatives from NCDC & CPHL NRL

NCDC NRL Team with new lab equipment