NARO to construct its first bio-security and bio-safety Laboratory
In the course of executing its mandate of conducting livestock health research, scientists under NARO are required to investigate diseases. However, during the investigation of these diseases, both scientists and animals are at risk of contracting diseases. To safeguard all participants involved in this process, there is a standard requirement for a biosecurity diagnostic laboratory. The present infrastructure for a diagnostic laboratory in NARO doesn’t have a bio-security component resulting in additional expenses to the organization and in turn the tax payer through dependence on other countries’ laboratories in freight and other research related costs.
L-R Eng. Murali, Jon Wright (Representing DTRA), Prof Justus Rutaisire (Director, Corporate Services) and Dr. Fred Kabi ( Head Livestock Health Program)
The US Department of Defense through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has offered to construct a state of the art Regional Diagnostic Laboratory (RDL) for NARO to improve sustainability, functionality, and enhance biological security and safety.
“The US Government has built facilities like these in other countries to control unique epidemics like ebola and Marburg. We believed that having one in Uganda would be strategic to service the wider community” Jon Wright, a representative of the DTRA said at the event in Nakyesasa.
Construction of the Regional Diagnostic Laboratory that will cost US$ 1.6 Million and equipment estimated at US$ 0.5Million will be housed at the National Livestock Resources Research Institute in Nakyesasa, Busukuma sub-county in Wakiso district and is the first of its kind in the National Agricultural Research Organisation. The construction of this Laboratory is expected to be completed in February 2019. This laboratory will specifically: (i) enhance biosafety and biosecurity standards (ii) strengthen Uganda’s ability to detect, diagnose, conduct surveillance and (iii) enable reporting of emerging and re-emerging diseases of international security concern, in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and World Health Organization for Animal Health Guidelines (OIE).
Prof. Justus Rutaisire, NARO’s Director Corporate Services welcomed the partnership and said, “Uganda being a landlocked country acts as a conduit for human and livestock traffic for its neighbors thereby exposing its human and livestock populations to different strains of disease. This state of the art Regional Diagnostic Laboratory will facilitate quick diagnosis and containment of disease and epidemics as and when they arise. It is anticipated to serve Uganda, Congo, South Sudan and other countries.”
With the presence of this Regional Diagnostic Laboratory, NARO – NaLIRRI will now be able to attract and conduct high quality collaborative research and boost capacity building thereby enhancing NARO’s profile in Animal Health Research globally.
