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US hand over health laboratory, quality assurance training centre
2008-07-12 10:03:11
By Guardian Reporter
The US government has lauded the success of its partnership with the Tanzanian government in improving the health sector in the country.
This was said on Thursday by American embassy`s deputy chief of mission Larry André at the handover of the National Health Laboratory and Quality Assurance Training Centre in Dar es Salaam.
``Since 2005, our partnership has taken the idea of a comprehensive national health facility and made it into a reality,`` said André, adding:``As we reflect on this accomplishment today, let us be inspired to further our collaboration to promote the good health of the people.``
He hoped that the contribution of the new facility to better health and well-being of Tanzanians would be great.
He assured of sustained support of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which is part of the United States government`s Department of Health and Human Services, in strengthening the capacity to respond to existing and emerging health threats.
Through the initiative, he said, America was helping Tanzania under the US President`s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the US President\'s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and the Avian-influenza Preparedness Initiative.
He added that his government, through CDC, worked hand in hand with Tanzanian government partners on key health issues, including HIV/Aids, malaria, tuberculosis, sexually-transmitted diseases, avian influenza and other threats.
``The building will house the new Quality Assurance Laboratory, which is two floors of state-of-the-art laboratory space for testing and research on HIV and other infectious diseases,`` he said.
He noted that the new facility included a laboratory equipped for diagnostic testing and operational research for emerging health threats such as avian influenza and Rift Valley Fever.
``It is also equipped for the provision of quality assurance work, such as ensuring that all of the HIV testing being conducted throughout the country is of the highest quality possible,`` he added.
The facility, noted the envoy, had two training laboratories which would increase the availability of laboratory technicians trained to the highest level, which was a critical element in any disease response.
The building, he said, would also house an HIV/Aids resource centre, a HIV training centre and additional office and training space.
``The Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, which will be established here, will enhance Tanzania`s capacity for surveillance and disease response, further facilitating the government`s ability to proactively respond to health-threat information as soon as it comes in,`` he said.
According to him, the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) would also have its headquarters in the building.
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