The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has commissioned a biorepository laboratory at the agency’s Central Public Health Laboratory in Yaba, Lagos State.

According to a statement issued and made available to The Star on Thursday by the Public Affairs Section (PAS), U.S. Consulate General, the expansion and equipping of the biorepository were supported by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) through COVID-19 CARES Act funding.

In addition to the provision of equipment and medical supplies, the U.S. CDC supported the training of staff of the NCDC to improve local capacity in managing the laboratory.

In his remarks, the U.S. Consul General, Will Stevens, said the new facility would support NCDC’s efforts through the cataloguing and storing of blood samples for future use, such as testing to improve the detection and surveillance of new, emerging, and reemerging diseases.

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He expressed optimism that the upgraded biorepository laboratory would support Nigeria’s readiness for future epidemic and pandemic responses.

“Today’s commissioning is a major accomplishment of the strategic partnership between the United States and Nigeria to support health security and respond to disease threats,” Stevens said.

He further highlighted the U.S-Nigeria longstanding partnership with Nigerian health institutions to implement key public health programs, evaluate disease surveillance and response efforts, and contribute to reinforcing the existing public health infrastructure.

“Since 2004, the United States and Nigeria have partnered to improve laboratory networks, systems, and services. These collaborations have consistently yielded results as the nation’s laboratory capacity continues to grow in quantity and quality,” the U.S. Consul General added.

The biorepository laboratory project was implemented in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, NCDC, and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria.

The Star