WEST NILE | ANIMAL | LAB

ARUA - The Infectious Disease Institute (IDI) has handed over the revamped regional animal laboratory for West Nile.

The well-renovated and equipped regional laboratory, which is in Arua city, cost shillings 413 million and was handed over on Thursday in the presence of district veterinary officers and other technical staff from the districts of West Nile.

According to IDI, the porous borders of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are exposing West Nile to infectious diseases for both animals and humans.

The majority of the districts in West Nile including Pakwach, Nebbi, Zombo, Arua district, Arua city, Maracha, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo and Adjumani have limited control on movements of animals and people, especially those crossing through the undesignated points.

Francis Kakoza, the deputy head of department animal health Infectious Disease Institute remarks. (All Photos by Robert Adiga)

Dr Andrew Kambugu, the executive director of Infectious Disease Institute, Makerere University, while speaking at the launch of the regional animal laboratory, said since the region borders the two countries with a huge number of refugees, the facility will enable quick tests done on suspected sick animals so that action can be taken faster instead of transporting the samples to Entebbe in Wakiso district.

“In order to avert outbreaks like Anthrax and other neglected tropical diseases, we need to strengthen surveillance in the border districts. We have a running global health security and strengthening health systems programme. So, this Laboratory will enable us to work and control diseases that may come from the neighbouring countries easily,” Kambugu said

He added that the region has in the past experienced outbreaks of plague, anthrax, yellow fever, West Nile Virus and Rift Valley fever in humans. It has also experienced outbreaks of anthrax, brucellosis, Rift Valley Fever and Rabies in animals with their history traced from either South Sudan or DRC.

Moyo district veterinary officer Dr Richard Akule said: “With this laboratory, we need to promote trade in livestock products because we have a great number of livestock both locally and at regional trade. We need to ensure that there is food safety in the region because we can export beef, milk and other animal products”.

Akule added that, with the presence of refugees in the region, several livelihood partners support the refugees with animals and in some cases, introduce livestock species, which are not familiar with the terrain of the region and that this could pose a danger in terms of disease outbreak, necessitating the presence of the lab.

Dr. Kambugu, the executive director Infectious Disease Institute hands over documents for the revamped laboratory to the district officials and veterinary officials of West Nile in Arua City.

IDI deputy head of department animal health Francis Kakoza said they have done part of their work by mobilising resources and renovating the facility and challenged the various district leadership to allocate resources for the operationalisation of veterinary services in their respective districts for effective usage of the regional laboratory.

“I also want to thank the different district leaders for the cordial relationship we had with them while undertaking the various health interventions in the region and we pledge to continue supporting the region with whatever we can to ensure health population of both animals and humans," Kakoza said.

Jimmy Alli, the principal assistant secretary of Logiri sub-county in Arua district, who represented the chief administrative officer, said there is a direct linkage between human health and animal health. Therefore, there is a need to effectively use the laboratory to address the diseases in animals.

He also calls for the operationalisation and maintenance strategy to avoid cases of the lab going to the waste.

“The lab should seek to address the issu