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By Abujah Racheal

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) says it has established a new campus which will provide a platform for collaborative research and partnerships.

This, the institute stated is to also boost the provision of quality health services for all Nigerians.

Dr Patrick Dakum, IHVN Chief Executive Officer, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

He said that the campus would also promote excellence in care and treatment, capacity building and research into infectious and non-infectious diseases in the country.

Dakum said that the building was equipped to host hematology, chemistry, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), microbiology, biorepository and gene sequencing laboratories, training centers and office spaces.

He noted that the IHVN continues to drive equitable access to health for both individuals and communities through innovative and evidence-based strategies.

He recalled that the Institute received support from partners and corporate organisations during its fundraising and ground-breaking ceremonies for the structure in March and November 2016.

“The towers are representative of the possibilities that are attainable when there is public and private partnership with the health of Nigerians as the focus,” he said.

The CEO said that the new IHVN Campus would house its International Research Center of Excellence(IRCE).

He stated that IRCE would encourage mentorship and trainings on global health methodology, epidemiology, scientific and medical ethics, clinical trials, among other areas.

Dakum said that the Institute was committed to continuing its fight against HIV, tuberculosis and other diseases across the country.

“Our efforts have continued to yield results since our establishment in 2004. We have tested more than 15 million individuals for HIV.

” We have enrolled over 540,000 clients on treatment for HIV, provided treatment for more than 50,000 individuals with tuberculosis and drug-resistant tuberculosis.

“We have also improved infrastructure of more than 300 health facilities, contributed to the establishment of national reference laboratories as well as supported over 100 laboratories in the country.

“In the area of capacity building, we have trained close to 50,000 health care providers since inception, as well as carried out quality researches.

“With the support of our funders like the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

” Others are :The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), US National Institutes of Health amongst others,” he said.

NAN reports that the campus is a seven-story twin tower, located at Emeritus Umaru Shehu Avenue, Cadastral Zone in Abuja.(NAN)