WHO upgrades Public Health Laboratory in Port Sudan for outbreak preparedness and response

WHO handed over to the Federal Ministry of Health critically needed equipment and supplies to upgrade the Public Health Laboratory in Port Sudan to National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) status in place of the NPHL in Khartoum, which has been out of service since April 2023 due to the conflict in Sudan. The functions of the laboratory are critically needed for public health emergency preparedness and response, particularly during the rainy season when there is heightened risk of floods and disease outbreaks.

According to the WHO supplies included freezers with -20 ºC freezing capacity, RT-PCR kits, rapid diagnostic test kits and transport media, as well as extendable support for operational cost, including fuel for power supply generators.

“WHO is fully committed to providing unwavering support to the Public Health Laboratory to ensure that Sudan has the capacity to prepare for and respond to epidemic-prone diseases,” Dr Nima Saeed Abid, WHO Representative in Sudan, said. “Public health laboratories are a cornerstone of health emergencies alert and response mechanisms and we are dedicated to furnishing them with equipment, machinery and supplies, and to capacitating staff with the required skills.”