FEC approves N8.6 billion for construction of a vaccine laboratory, HIV/AIDS text kits and medical equipment procurement

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a budget of N8.6 billion for the construction of a vaccine laboratory, HIV/AIDS text kits, and medical equipment procurement.
Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of Health, made the announcement while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to the minister, N3.06 billion will be spent on the construction of a vaccine laboratory, N1.2 billion will be spent on laboratory equipment, and N4.3 billion will be spent on HIV/AIDS and Syphilis text kits.

“The Ministry of Health presented three memos, all of which were approved,” he said. One of them was for the purchase of HIV/AIDS test kits.

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“As you all know, Nigeria has successfully reduced HIV prevalence from 3% to 1.3 percent,” he said, adding that the government was prepared to conduct more tests, particularly of mothers who may be carrying HIV that could be passed on to their unborn children, thanks to the nationality indicator and the impact survey conducted recently.

“This is referred to as the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, as well as the lack of routine tests that will be performed on people who may have no symptoms but are HIV carriers.

“So, we’re procuring these test kits, and we’re also including test kits that can detect syphilis.

“As you are all aware, syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease. As a result, this memo was presented today and approved by the Council,” the minister explained.

The Council also approved two other memos from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, he added (NAFDAC).

“One of them was a memo that was intended to purchase equipment for six laboratories across the country, and it was also passed without comment.

He went on to say, “It’s to update and upgrade NAFDAC’s laboratories.”