The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research has commissioned a state-of-the-art Sample Reception Centre aimed at strengthening its laboratory services and biomedical research capacity.
The fully equipped facility, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), will provide a secure and controlled environment for the receipt, registration and storage of clinical and environmental samples. The centre is expected to enhance the integrity, safety and traceability of specimens processed at the institute.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Director of the Institute, Professor Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, described the development as a significant milestone for both Ghana and the wider African region.
“Importantly, this center is not only for Ghana. We are a collaborating center representing several countries within the subregion. It serves as a central hub for specimens across the subregion, including countries like Togo, Benin, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, and sometimes including countries like Nigeria. This is a testament to the role Noguchi plays in terms of global health security,” she stated.
Also addressing the gathering, Dr Fiona Braka, representing the World Health Organization, said the new facility symbolizes the University of Ghana’s commitment to strengthening public health systems.
“This center represents far more than just bricks and mortar; it is also more than just a facility. It embodies our collective commitment to strengthening public health infrastructure, enhancing laboratory systems, and safeguarding the health of our people,” she said.
The Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Alfred Edwin Yawson, expressed appreciation to WHO and its partners for supporting the establishment of the facility.
“On behalf of the College of Health Sciences and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, we are sincerely grateful to WHO and its partners for supporting us with this sample reception facility. It is going to aid the work we do here and provide significant support to the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, and all our surveillance systems in the country to help us quickly make diagnoses, support treatment, and prevent epidemics and pandemics,” he said.
The commissioning of the facility is expected to strengthen disease surveillance, improve laboratory operations and enhance Ghana’s preparedness and response to public health threats.
The Noguchi Memorial Institute reaffirmed its commitment to advancing healthcare delivery in Ghana and across Africa through sustained investment in research, strong partnerships and improved public health infrastructure.
