WHO, with Gates Foundation, donates 100kva generator to polio laboratory in Maiduguri
As part of efforts to provide succour and ensure effective sustenance of a polio-free Nigeria, the World Health Organisation (WHO), with assistance from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMFG), has donated a 100kva generator to the accredited polio laboratory situated at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) in Boro State.
According to APO Group on behalf of the World Health Organisation (WHO), 48 solar panels of 330 watts each, 21 KVA inverters, and 24 tabular batteries were earlier donated to ensure uninterrupted services in the laboratory.
Handing over the generator to the laboratory, the WHO North East emergency manager, Dr Beatrice Muraguri, said the donation will strategically complement the effort of the laboratory in increasing its efficiency and effectiveness.
“This will effectively serve the other states that are extremely dependent on this accredited laboratory, especially in analysing Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) stool samples and environmental samples.
“In Nigeria, as of the 10th of December, 2022 (week 48) a total of 9,366 AFP and 153 cVDPV2 cases have been reported across 55 LGAs in 17 states. In view of that, it remains imperative to continue the AFP surveillance and sample collection to sustain the gains against wild poliovirus. Also, there is a need to keep up testing to support the fight against the circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus 2 (cVDPV2),” said Dr Muraguri.
Appreciating the WHO for its support to the polio laboratory, Dr Soji Oderinde, Assistant Director of Technical at the polio laboratory in Maiduguri, said the support is timely because the centre will not relent in its effort to ensure Nigeria remains a polio-free country.
He assured the machine would be used carefully.
The laboratory currently serves 10 northern states including Katsina, Bauchi, Kano, Jos, and Taraba. And from January 2022 – November 2022, there have been 17,323 AFP stool samples analysed in the laboratory, including 12,764 environmental samples and 12,650 cell cultured.
Reiterating WHO’s support to the laboratory, the country representative Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said WHO will continue to provide additional support to strengthen the capacity of the laboratory in the fight against poliovirus in Nigeria.
“We remain committed to supporting the state technically to ensure essential health services are adequately accessed by all,” he said.
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