Minister pledges more commitment towards HIV/AIDS,TB reduction

October 23, 2006

Minister of health, Prof Eyitayo Lambo has pledged more commitment towards combating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in the country.

Speaking on Monday at the commisssioning of the new Nigerian Institute of Medical Research(NIM) out patients clinic and ultra modern drug warehouse, the minister said upgrading the NIMR clinic was in line with the thrust of health reforms agenda which is to reduced disease burden in the country.

He commmended the achievements of NIMR noting that over the past two decades, the institutes had strived to contributed its quote to the imprvement of the healt care delivery in the country.

Also speakng at the occassion, the Director - General (DG) of NMR, Dr Oni Idigebe noted that the instistute had with the federal Government and other partners been able to develop some specialized laboratories with enhanced sophistication and capacity and presently two TB and HIV\AIDS exists in the Institute.

The new NIMR clinic he explained has HIV\AIDS specialized laboratories for confirmatory test for serostatus and haematological test.

He explaind that the upgrading of the NIMR health faclities was implemted with some financia support from both federal Governmnt and Havard School of Public Health, Boston USA.

The new outpatient clinic with these present facilities and capacities can provided quality care services to over 700 TB and HIV patient per annum, the DG made known.

Daily Champion,Lagos