Construction of Biobank, Proficiency Panels Production Center launched

Addis Ababa, August 14, 2023 (FBC) – Ministry of Health has today officially launched the construction of a biobank and proficiency panels production center in Addis Ababa.

The center will be built with a cost of 885 million Birr obtained from the Government of Ethiopia and the World Bank on 3000 meters square at the premises of Ethiopian Public Health Institute in the capital.

The center is expected to be functional in two years, it was learned.

During the launching, Minister of Health Dr. Lia Tadesse said up on functionality, the center will improve the country’s laboratory services to a higher level.

She said the center will provide standardized quality assurance services of laboratories in the country to the public and private health institutions, per ENA.

According to the minister, the health information to be delivered by the laboratory is crucially important to properly respond to health risks that might occur in the form of outbreaks by conducting disease surveillance.

Indicating that currently, quality samples have been obtained by purchasing from international companies with huge amount of foreign currency, Dr. Lia said that when the center commences operation, it is expected to avert this challenge and bring the nation’s laboratory services to highest level of standard.

Director General of Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Mesay Hailu for his part stated that the construction of the center will help the country properly and carefully administrate samples of pathogens and other related information.

According to him, the completion of this newly launched center and other ongoing construction of similar facilities will immensely improve the overall health system of the country.