The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) said on Sunday that it had strengthened the capacity of over 260 laboratories across the country since 2014 through the provision of apparatus and staff training.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the institute, Dr Patrick Dakum, who disclosed this at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, said that the affected laboratories cut across tertiary, secondary, and primary health facilities in Nigeria.
Dakum said that in 2004 when the institute was incorporated as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), it set out to be part and parcel of the Nigerian response to the HIV scourge.
``I will say that between that times (2004) and now the Institute of Human Virology (IHVN) has been able to strengthen close to 260 about laboratories in the country.
``And these laboratories span from tertiary health facilities, secondary health facilities and even primary healthcare facilities.
``And the support we have provided including the building itself, in some instances, then the equipment then the reagents then the training associated with ensuring that appropriate services are ongoing.
``We have collaborated with the World Health Organisation working along with the Centre for Disease Control to ensure that a process for quality improvement is instituted is these laboratories.
Dakum said that apart from its support to the fight against HIV infection, the institute was providing support to tackling tuberculosis as it was instrumental to developing the first functional TB culture laboratory in the country.
According to him, the laboratory is located in Zaria, Kaduna State.
He said that the institute was an off-shoot of the decision of the U.S. government in 2004 to provide an enhanced support through a programme tagged: ``President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief``.
Dakum said that the University of Maryland in Baltimore was a recipient of that relief and facilitated the establishment of an entity to manage the support.
According to him, the institute is working principally in the public sector to address issues of laboratory infrastructure, among others.
IHVN was established in 2004 as an NGO to address the HIV/AIDS crises in Nigeria through the development of infrastructure for treatment, care, prevention, and support.
It also extends such support to people living with and those affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases.
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