An Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory has been inaugurated at Dow University of Health Sciences by Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, and it is being described as a significant development in the health sector.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr Azra Pechuho said that the state-of-the-art laboratory, built at a cost of one billion rupees, is a historic initiative of the Sindh government.
She stated that the Sindh government provided eight hundred million rupees for the establishment of the laboratory and will now also bear its annual operational expenses. The annual expenditure of the lab is estimated at approximately three hundred million rupees.
She expressed concern that despite being ahead of other provinces in the health sector, the Sindh government is not appreciated, nor are the grants allocated for health highlighted.
The Vice Chancellor said that the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital is providing services not only to patients from Sindh but also to those coming from other provinces. According to Professor Nazli Hussain, all facilities at the hospital are provided free of cost by the Sindh government.
During the briefing, it was stated that the modern research laboratory established at NIPA will assist in the timely detection, research, and recommendation of measures to tackle rapidly spreading diseases. The new facility will make it possible to effectively combat epidemics.
The laboratory will enhance the speed and effectiveness of diagnosis for various infectious diseases including dengue, Congo, HIV, and TB, while the availability of advanced testing at the local level will also reduce costs.
Medical and laboratory staff will be provided with advanced biosafety training to ensure that research and diagnosis can be conducted in accordance with international standards.
