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To strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for multiple disease testing and surveillance, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has donated a Droplet Digital PCR machine to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).

The machine, which is the first of its kind in the country, is equipped to generate over 20,000 small droplets for multiple disease testing and carry out surveillance using wastewater as well as other sources to provide insight into disease hot spots. The equipment from Bio-Rad can also be used in addressing exciting biological research questions.

IHVN Senior Program Officer, Dr, Monday Tola, who handed over the equipment to NCDC, at the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, said that diseases including monkey-pox and COVID-19 can be diagnosed using the machine.

“The machine can test 20,000-minute droplets so you won’t miss anything in the laboratory test and it can test multiple diseases at a go,”

NCDC Head of Reference Laboratory, Dr. James Avong, said “This equipment is a new technology that will help in environment and human survey; effluents can be gotten from waste and can be analyzed. By using the machine, we will be able to identify the different strains of COVID through waste. Also, when there is also an outbreak of any new disease, this equipment will enable us to detect it fast. For us at NCDC it is a breakthrough to have this equipment, we are going to utilize it as much as possible in surveillance and prompt response to diseases.”

After the installation of the equipment by LASEC, more than 20 laboratory engineers and technicians from APIN Global Health Initiatives, NCDC, and IHVN received a two-day training on its use. The training featured practical sessions on utilizing the machine.

The PCR machine was bought with funding support from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing away of Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu, CON, CFR, who was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN). This sad event occurred on Monday, 2nd October 2023.

Professor Umaru Shehu was an exemplary figure, a distinguished physician, academic, and administrator whose profound impact extended far beyond our organization. His vast clinical expertise in the field of community medicine was an invaluable asset to both the IHVN Board and our beloved nation, Nigeria.

Professor Shehu’s remarkable journey in the academic and healthcare sectors included achievements such as his education at the prestigious University of Ibadan and the University of Liverpool, where he honed his skills. He also became a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College. Furthermore, he served as the Deputy Vice  Chancellor (Academic) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from 1977 to 1978. He was later appointed as the Vice Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from 1978 to 1980. His leadership expertise extended to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, where he chaired the Board of Management of the teaching hospital from 1991 to 1994.

Professor Shehu’s legacy was not limited to the academia; he held esteemed positions as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano, and the University of Lagos from 1993 to 1999. Furthermore, he provided invaluable guidance when he chaired the Boards of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and STOPAIDS.

Beyond his distinguished roles, Professor Shehu was recognized with the prestigious national award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). He was not only a scholar of international repute, with numerous publications to his name, but also a Consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO). His dedication to the field of Community Medicine culminated in his appointment as a Professor Emeritus at the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

In his lifetime, Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu remained an active member of various international and local professional bodies, contributing significantly to the advancement of medical knowledge worldwide.

The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) has organized a training of trainers on Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) 3 curriculum in Nigeria for laboratory personnel from the Ministry of Health.

The training, which took place in Nasarawa State Nigeria, was aimed at improving the implementation and use of the SLMTA curriculum for continuous quality improvement of laboratory systems in the country.

IHVN Head, Quality Improvement/Assurance Unit, Mrs. Oyebimpe Balogun, said “Laboratories are expected to implement a quality management system to ensure that results generated are accurate, reliable and timely for either diagnosis, treatment management and surveillance for public health purposes.  The participants’ capacities are being built to support this across the states.”

She added that “as the participants complete the training, they are added to the pool of National Resource for Laboratory Quality Management System implementation in Nigeria, where their responsibility will include; conducting training audits and mentorship at national, sub-national levels, and in health facilities across the country.”

Deputy Director of Public Health Initiative, Dr. Eke Ofuche, who facilitated sessions during the training, said that the training has virtual and physical components as well as practical sessions to certify the competence of the participants.

“Participants who are certified ought to also train people in their various communities,” he said.

 A participant at the training from Imo State Public Health Laboratory, Chukwuemeka Victor, described the training as useful in developing laboratory processes, quality indicators, and prioritization of tasks in the laboratory. “It really opened my eyes to the application of Quality Management Systems. I have had a lot of residual knowledge on Quality Management Systems, but this gave me guidance regarding its implementation.”

The training was funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with Technical Assistance by SLMTA Nigeria Team.”