IHVN asserts capacity to predict pandemics

By Ikenna Osuoha

Dr Patrick Dakum, the Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN), has asserted the capacity of the institute to predict pandemics.

Dakum made the assertion at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

He also expressed the readiness of the institute to check the spread of any epidemic in partnership with relevant stakeholders through a multi-country research grant.

He said “we have a research grant to look at COVI-19. We are to predict pandemics; we don’t want pandemics to take us unawares.

“It is a multi-country research grant in collaboration with researchers in University of Maryland in the U.S and in Africa.”

Dakum, who also restated the commitment of the institute to ensure quality healthcare to Nigerians, said IHVN was more interested in the outcome.

According to him, the target is to reduce morbidity and mortality rate in the country.

He emphasised the benefits of stronger collaboration with relevant stakeholders for improved healthcare for Nigerians, saying “IHVN is a research centre of excellence, we have this kind of llaboratories hat will provide services from molecular pathology.

“We are currently housing researchers for the rest of West Africa, funded by the U.S Government.”

He explained that a research centre was not necessarily built around equipment but the quality of researchers.

He noted that the institute would continue to complement Federal Ministry of Health’s efforts toward achieving a healthy nation. (NAN)