The US President’s Malaria Initiative for States (PMIs) donated sixteen electronic microscopes and other laboratory supplies to the Oyo State government on Wednesday.

Dr. Bode Ladipo, the Health Commissioner for Oyo State, stated that there have been decreases in the number of confirmed cases of malaria in recent years as he accepted the equipment in Ibadan. He added that Oyo State is gradually transitioning from a state in southwest Nigeria that is plagued by malaria to one that is malaria-free.

“We have started to see a marked reduction in the number of cases that are confirmed to be malaria. More importantly, as Oyo State is transiting from a malaria burdensome state and moving towards being malaria-free, we need to start looking at making appropriate diagnoses”, Ladipo said.

He stated that the state’s reference laboratory will be fully operational in two months, ensuring a workable system for the diagnosis of both recent and historical infectious diseases throughout the state.

According to him, “We are looking at a situation in which we have a laboratory in Oyo State that will be able to serve for a lot of issues, including infectious diseases like HIV, malaria and tuberculosis as well as any other diseases that are resurfacing within our climes.

“It is not appropriate for a state like us to be sending samples for something like cholera outside of the confines of the state for confirmation and we will do everything in our powers to ensure that is put in the past”, he added.

He also insisted that using microscopes will enable the government of Oyo State to periodically assess the prevalence of malaria in the state.

While the donated microscopes were to be distributed to healthcare facilities with high cliental burdens in order to improve malaria diagnosis and care, Dr.Oluwayemisi Ayandipo, the State Coordinator for the US President’s Malaria Initiative for States (PMIs), stated that functional microscopes are important to ensure malaria elimination in the state.

According to her, in addition to the 26 laboratory scientists trained by PMIs, the state is receiving support from PMIs to establish a quality assurance and quality control laboratory. This laboratory will use a teaching microscope to train other medical laboratory scientists in the field of malaria microscopy.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusoji Adeyanju, as well as the Directors of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Dr. Gbolahan Abass, Public Health, Dr.Bunmi Ayinde, and Secondary Health Care and Training, Dr. Wale Falana, were all present when the equipment was delivered.

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