TB Modular Laboratory Commissioned By US-Nigeria Partnership.

The TB Modular Laboratory at the Defence Reference Laboratory in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, has been officially commissioned, providing a boost to Nigeria’s public health infrastructure.

According to a statement issued by the United States Embassy on Thursday, the state-of-the-art facility, which will be commissioned on August 20, 2024, will mark a new chapter in Nigeria’s fight against tuberculosis (TB), solidifying Nigeria and the United States’ ongoing partnership in advancing health outcomes across the country.

According to the statement, the TB Modular Laboratory, which will be fully certified by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in June 2024, is a cutting-edge facility that will strengthen Nigeria’s National TB and Leprosy Programme.

The laboratory was officially commissioned by Dr. Bello Mutawalle, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, and witnessed by Richard Mills, US Ambassador to Nigeria, Colonel Eli Lozano, Commander, Walter Reed Army of Research (WRAIR), the Director General of the Nigerian Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme, Brig. Gen. NAE Okeji (Rtd), and the Permanent Secretary, Nigerian Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana.

The laboratory has advanced molecular diagnostic tools, such as line probe assays and Drug Sensitivity Testing (DST), which are critical for detecting drug-resistant tuberculosis strains. By increasing TB case detection and integrating HIV and TB diagnostic services, the laboratory will significantly improve access to life-saving diagnostic services for both military and civilian populations.

According to the statement, this is the latest milestone in the long-standing collaboration between the Nigerian Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (MODHIP) and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Africa (WRAIR Africa). This 19-year-old collaboration focusses on providing HIV prevention, care, and treatment services to military personnel, their families, and civilians in nearby communities. Over time, the partnership has broadened its focus to include tuberculosis, malaria, clinical research, and vaccine trials, addressing both emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in Nigeria.

Speaking about the partnership, Ambassador Mills stated that the US government’s investment in Nigerians’ health is commensurate with Nigeria’s status on the continent. He also stated that Nigeria has the largest American government health programming budget in the world. He concluded that the significant investment, made possible by the generosity of the American people, enables the United States to provide critical funding and technical assistance across a wide range of health priorities.

The commissioning of the TB Modular Laboratory demonstrates the enduring strength of the US-Nigeria partnership. This collaboration has helped to improve the quality of medical services provided in military health facilities across Nigeria. MODHIP-WRAIR Africa is continuing to strengthen the country’s ability to combat infectious diseases and improve public health outcomes by utilising cutting-edge technology and rigorous research.

As Nigeria faces ongoing challenges in the fight against tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, the TB Modular Laboratory will play an important role in ensuring accurate diagnoses, ultimately saving lives and strengthening the country’s public health response. The laboratory’s capabilities will also help Nigeria’s overall efforts to combat tuberculosis, particularly in light of the global fight against drug-resistant strains of the disease.

While thanking all collaborators for the success of the new laboratory’s construction, equipping, and certification, Helina Meri, the Country Director of the WRAIR Africa program in Nigeria, stated that the greatest joy will be to see the laboratory put to full use in combating tuberculosis and ensuring that both military and civilian populations in Nigeria receive the highest standards of care.