Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has inaugurated a bio-repository in Lagos to collect, catalog and store samples of biological materials for laboratory research.
The
Director-General, NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, said that the facility has been
located at the Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL).
Adetifa
said the facility was provided as part of the agency’s effort of building
sustainable systems for health security through strategic partnerships.
He
said that the project was supported by the United States Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (US-CDC), through the Institute of Human Virology
(IHVN).
The
NCDC boss said that the effort would strengthen diagnostic capacity and
surveillance for infectious diseases in the country.
He
added that one of the strategic approaches to achieving the NCDC mandate was
the development and maintenance of reference laboratories across the country.
He
explained that bio-repository was an essential element for preparedness and
response to infectious disease outbreaks.
“It
facilitates timely sharing of biological specimens and data and facilitates
research, including public health research and development.
“This
bio-repository in CPHL will afford researchers that meet the necessary ethical
requirements easy access to well-curated biological samples and data.
“The
samples made available through bio-repositories such as this, also aid
training, confirmation of proficiency, etc,” Adefita said.
He added that the additional sample storage capacity would
contribute to increased understanding of infectious diseases through integrated
disease surveillance and research.
“It will inform public health decision-making and facilitate the
development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines,” the DG said.
Adetifa stressed that the new biorepository would also serve as
a national centralized resource for valuable, high quality and well-annotated
samples.
He said it would expand NCDC’s capacity for biobanking and
complement its National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, which houses the largest
biorepository in West Africa.
Adefita added that the quality of the biospecimens would enhance
timely detection and response to emerging and re-emerging disease outbreaks,
and in developing therapeutics and vaccines for the country
He appreciated Nigeria’s partnership with US-CDC and the IHVN,
saying it has strengthened the capacity for public health laboratory services
in Nigeria, among others
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