NCDC commissions Zonal Reference Laboratory in Ekiti

A Zonal Reference Laboratory of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has been unveiled in Ekiti State.

The centre, the first of its kind in the South West, was constructed by the NCDC, Ekiti State Government and World Bank.

Unveiling the facility in Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Governor Biodun Oyebanji appreciated the Federal Government and World Bank for the laudable project, while assuring the public that his administration will continue to ensure that health facilities across the 16 local governments of the state are well-equipped.

Governor Oyebanji explained that the establishment of the laboratory centre would aid early detection, prevention and treatment of different kinds of disease

Ekiti State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, in his remark explained that the feat was achieved by the collective efforts of the major stakeholders. He also gave assurance that the present administration in the state will not relent in prioritising the health of citizens.

The Chief Medical Director of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Professor Kayode Olabanji noted that the landmark project would assist the hospital to diagnose and treat all forms of diseases. He further promised that staff of the teaching hospital would judiciously use the laboratory to improve the health status of patients.

In his speech, the Director General of NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, said the centre will further bolster the centre’s capability in its mandate of protecting Nigerians from different diseases.

Speaking further he said: “This is aligned with Nigeria’s obligations under International Health Regulations IHR 2005 and recommendations from Nigeria’s 2017 Joint External Evaluation, JEE.

“The NCDC’s implementation of its tiered laboratory network is intended to establish an effective network of testing laboratories for diseases of public health importance.”

He added: “The ZRLs will bring services closer to states, facilitate sample transportation, reduce turnaround time for testing and release of results and contribute to resilience in our emergency and preparedness efforts at the subnational level.”

Dr Adetifa explained that the newly commissioned Ekiti centre would strengthen diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases in Nigeria, with a particular focus on the six states within the South-West region, namely Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Ogun and the whole of southern Nigeria at large.

He further disclosed: “As part of taking forward lessons learnt from the global COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Nigeria, the NCDC has successfully designated and commenced the establishment of Zonal Reference Laboratories across the 6 geopolitical zones which are at various stages of completion.

“These ZRLs will contribute to outbreak preparedness and response, provide a wider geographic diagnostic coverage for epidemic and epidemic-prone diseases and support the implementation of quality management systems including national and international.”