Borno, 15 December, 2022 – One of many 36 States in Nigeria, had been experiencing incessant energy outages since 2020, leaving some places within the state in complete darkness, as a result of disruption of the facility grid attributable to insecurity. This has hampered operations on the polio laboratory located on the College of Maiduguri Instructing Hospital (UMTH).
As a part of efforts to supply succor and guarantee efficient sustenance of a Polio-free Nigeria, the World Well being Group (WHO) , with help from Invoice and Melinda Gates Basis (BMFG), has donated a 100kva generator to the accredited polio laboratory, along with the sooner donated 48 photo voltaic panels of 330 watts every, 21 KVA inverters, and 24 tabular batteries. That is to make sure uninterrupted companies within the laboratory.
Handing over the generator to the laboratory, the WHO northeast emergency supervisor, Dr Beatrice Muraguri mentioned, this donation will strategically complement the general effort of the laboratory particularly, rising each the effectivity and effectiveness of the lab.
“This can successfully serve the opposite states which can be extraordinarily depending on this accredited laboratory, particularly in analyzing Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) stool samples and environmental samples,” mentioned Dr Muraguri.
In Nigeria, as of the tenth of December, 2022 (week 48) a complete of 9,366 AFP and 153 cVDPV2 instances have been reported throughout 55 LGAs in 17 states. In view of that, it stays crucial to proceed the AFP surveillance and pattern assortment to maintain the positive aspects towards wild poliovirus. Additionally, there’s a have to sustain testing to help the battle towards the circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus 2 (cVDPV2).
Appreciating the WHO for its unrelenting help to the polio laboratory, Dr Soji Oderinde, Assistant Director of Technical on the Polio laboratory mentioned, this help is simply on time as a result of we proceed dedicated to enjoying our half in guaranteeing Nigeria stays a polio-free nation. “This machine might be dealt with rigorously,” he added.
As one of many two nationwide laboratories in Nigeria, and among the many 16 within the African Area, the Polio laboratory was first established within the yr 1999 however was subsequently accredited by WHO Regional Workplace for Africa. The laboratory has continued to play a key position in guaranteeing the sustenance of a polio-free Nigeria, particularly by guaranteeing well timed and efficient evaluation of collected stools, in addition to each detection and isolation of environmental samples.
As a result of pivotal position the laboratory performs, it presently serves 10 northern states in Nigeria, together with Katsina, Bauchi, Kano, Jos, and Taraba. And from January 2022 – November 2022, there have been *17,323 AFP stool samples analyzed within the laboratory, together with *12,764 environmental samples and *12,650 cell cultured.
Reiterating WHO’s help to the laboratory, the nation consultant Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo mentioned, “WHO will proceed to supply further help to strengthen the capability of the laboratory within the battle towards poliovirus in Nigeria. We stay dedicated to supporting the state technically and guaranteeing important well being companies are adequately accessed by all.”
He thanked BMGF for the continual help to WHO efforts in Nigeria.
Technical contact:
MuraguriI, Beatrice; E mail: bmuraguri [at] who.int