The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Gusau has made a milestone achievement in the fight against Monkeypox. The centre has announced the activation of its molecular laboratory for Monkeypox testing recently.

This announcement was signed by Dr. Abdullahi Umar, Head of Clinical Services and Training at FMC Gusau, and was made available to the public. 

Dr. Umar noted that the Centre now has been "enrolled into the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Networking Testing Laboratories after meeting all the necessary conditions and requirement," which marks a notable step in enhancing the diagnostic capabilities of the Centre.

According to the announcement, this development "will support laboratory-based surveillance for Monkeypox in Zamfara State."

Ultimately, the activation of Monkeypox testing at FMC Gusau is expected to provide better monitoring, tracking and response to the disease. This enhancement in diagnostic capabilities can contribute to better health outcomes in Zamfara State.

In 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported a multi-country monkeypox outbreak spanning several global regions. While the full scope and impact of the outbreak are still not fully understood, the WHO states that laboratory testing could confirm infections quickly and accurately, which could interrupt transmission chains and curb any possible outbreak.

Naziru A Tukur (PhD) Information and Public Relations Officer, FMC, Gusau