Patience Makwele
Namibia has strengthened its ability to detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks after taking delivery of a mobile laboratory worth more than N$13 million from Russia, a facility expected to bring rapid testing closer to communities during public health emergencies.
The all-terrain laboratory which was handed over to the ministry of health and social services on Thursday, can be deployed to outbreak hotspots, allowing health workers to analyse samples on-site instead of transporting them to central laboratories for testing.
The mobile unit is capable of processing more than 800 tests a day and is expected to improve the country’s disease surveillance, particularly in remote areas where access to laboratory services is limited.
Deputy minister of health and social services Suzan Ndjaleka said the laboratory will reduce the time needed to confirm cases and allow health authorities to respond more quickly to disease outbreaks.
“We are decentralising hope, we are breaking those distances. We are no longer waiting for the crisis to come to help because we are taking the leap to the heart of the crisis.”
She said the facility forms part of efforts to decentralise health services by bringing critical laboratory capacity closer to affected communities.
“This laboratory will enable us to take diagnostics where they are needed most, ensuring faster detection, quicker response and ultimately better health outcomes for our people,” she added.
Russian Ambassador to Namibia Dmitry Lobach said the donation reflects growing cooperation between the two countries in strengthening public health systems.
“Russia remains firmly committed to international cooperation and we are ready to further develop cooperation with Namibian partners and take initiatives to improve common capacities in the fight against infectious diseases.”
He said the laboratory will enable health workers to diagnose a wide range of infectious diseases directly at outbreak sites, improving response times and helping to limit the spread of disease.
The donation follows Russia’s commitment, announced last year, to provide Namibia with a mobile anti-epidemic laboratory and training for local health professionals to operate the facility.
The laboratory is expected to strengthen Namibia’s preparedness for future public health emergencies by reducing turnaround times for laboratory testing and expanding access to diagnostic services beyond conventional health facilities.
