By Marvellous Nyang
June 13, 2024
In a major advancement for healthcare in Benue State, the newly renovated molecular laboratory at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Makurdi has been officially commissioned.
The inauguration event which took place this weeek was led by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Acting Country Director Suzanne Theroux and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The laboratory’s renovation was funded and technically supported by the U.S. CDC through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The facility now features state-of-the-art medical laboratory technology, enabling it to conduct HIV viral load and early infant diagnosis testing, as well as molecular tests for tuberculosis, COVID-19, hepatitis, and HPV.
During the commissioning ceremony, Ms. Theroux emphasised the importance of the upgraded laboratory, describing FMC Makurdi as a model lab for Nigeria.
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She commended the laboratory’s focus on quality management, highlighting that the high-quality data it provides will enhance integrated service delivery for patients and strengthen the state’s ability to detect and respond to disease threats swiftly.
Governor Alia expressed his gratitude for the international collaboration, noting the significant benefits the upgraded laboratory will bring to the people of Benue State.
He highlighted that such partnerships are vital for the continued improvement of healthcare infrastructure.
FMC Makurdi currently tests over 200,000 patient samples annually, making it one of the top molecular laboratories in the PEPFAR-Global Fund-supported network.
The enhanced capabilities of the laboratory are expected to greatly improve public health outcomes in the region.
