Gov. Alia unveils disease control machine, lab at FMC Makurdi

Gov. Alia unveils disease control machine, lab at FMC Makurdi

Machines

By Nicholas Dechi

Makurdi, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue, on Tuesday inaugurated a Molecular Laboratory and a Polymerase Chain Reaction machine at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi.

The equipment and laboratory were donated by the U.S. Centre for Disease Control (U.S. CDC).

Speaking during the ceremony, Alia said the gesture would go a long way in complementing government’s efforts at improving public health, particularly the HIV/AIDS.

He pointed out that the partnership between the U.S. CDC and the Benue Ministry of Health, as well as other health agencies in the state, had been instrumental to the collective efforts at ending HIV, which is a public health threat.

“Through the generous funds and technical assistance provided by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), we have made significant strides in strengthening our healthcare infrastructure and enhancing our capacity to combat this epidemic.

“This state-of-the-art facility, made possible through the support of the U.S. CDC, will play a crucial role in our efforts to diagnose, treat and prevent HIV/AIDS in our communities,” Alia said.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Yanmar Ortese, appreciated APIN Public Health Initiative and the U.S. CDC for donating the cutting-edge PCR machine to the FMC.

Ortese also expressed gratitude to the PEPFAR team for its unwavering support to the state in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“Your investment in our healthcare system has been instrumental in transforming HIV from a death sentence to a manageable chronic disease.

“Through PEPFAR’s support, over 180,000 people living with HIV are now accessing life-saving antiretroviral treatment across 264 health facilities in our state.

“The prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme has also ensured the birth of approximately 8,000 HIV-negative babies annually,” Ortese said.

Meanwhile, the FMC Medical Director, Prof. Joseph Kortor, described the donation as a milestone.

According to Kortor, it marks a significant step forward in the commitment to enhancing healthcare services and bolstering the capacity to combat infectious diseases in the state.

Earlier, the Acting Country Director, U.S. CDC-Nigeria, Suzanne Theroux, presented a laboratory accreditation certificate number ISO15189:2012, to the medical director of FMC.

Chief Executive Officer, APIN Public Health Initiative, Dr Prosper Okonkwo, thanked the U.S. CDC and the state government for always supporting FMC. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore