The Federal Ministry of Defence today launched a Defence Reference Laboratory to boost health care delivery in the country.
The laboratory which was built by the Defence Ministry and United States Department of Defence states is designed to support scientific research and produce laboratory investigations results that will be accepted and respected worldwide.
Minister of State for Defence, Mrs. Olushola Obada said “the facility will further promote the health of the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces ensuring their combat fitness for international peace support operations and internal security challenges”.
The minister was speaking at the launch of the facility in Abuja. The laboratory which is built to create room for research into HIV /AIDS and other diseases in the country.
The laboratory is also equipped to perform quality assurance control processes in the investigation of diseases.
Speaking on the partnership which began since 2005, United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence Mcculley, noted that the laboratory which is the first site used to estimate the prevalence of HIV-1 in individuals to determine the potential risk factor associated with HIV infection ,will no doubt provide a world-class diagnostic and laboratory services for Nigerians.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petrin, urged the mangers of the facility to ensure that the standards are maintained to allow the centre compete with others across the world.
