UNN INAUGURATES FIRST VACCINE RESEARCH CENTER IN ENUGU

download 6

UNN INAUGURATES FIRST VACCINE RESEARCH CENTER IN ENUGU

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) on Tuesday inaugurated a Vaccine Research Centre (VRC) for the development of vaccines for diseases that disproportionately affect Nigeria and Africa.

The centre is located at the Coal City Garden Estate in Enugu and equipped with funds from the United States National Health Institute and Belinda and Gates Foundation.

Inaugurating the center, the UNN Vice Chancellor Prof Charles Igwe, expressed satisfaction that the center established in 2018 had eventually taken off having survived dormancy occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged industrial strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Igwe commended the Director of the center, Prof Silva Anika and his team for making the project a reality and pledged that the center would help in addressing tropical animal and human diseases in the country.

In his remarks, Prof Anika said that the VRC would cater for training, research, development and production of vaccines for most endemic but neglected tropical human and animal diseases.

Anika said that the centre would establish collaborative partnership with national and global units to become viable and international in outlook.

The director disclosed that the research had received grants to work on the epidemiology and population genomics of African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) in both human and animals which caused immense suffering and economic losses in the society.

“Through partnerships with governments, international organizations and the private sector, we intend to translate these investigations into widespread programs that will save lives and improve livestock health and production.

“This centre strengthens our university’s traditional role of solving the biggest challenges that face Nigeria in particular and Africa in general, through scientific inquiry and discovery.

“It is also a major step towards self reliance in healthcare and I am confident that with the dedication of our researchers and support from all levels of government, this centre will achieve major breakthroughs that will improve human and animal health for generations to come,”.

The emeritus professor, however, disclosed that the centre had attracted about $1 million US dollars worth of equipment many of which required steady power supply.

Conducting the guests round the centre, a veterinarian and researcher, Dr Chinwe Chukwudi, said that the million dollar equipment could be used to diagnose many diseases including cancer through researches.

Chukwudi, who attracted the grant, said the centre had began a pilot study on Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) known as sleeping sickness noting that the disease had become prevalent in the country.

According to her, there is 10 per cent prevalence rate in a sampled population at a hospital at Nsukka in Enugu State.

She said that 11 out of 184 samples representing six per cent were consistently positive in all assays done adding that the data suggested a high burden of undiagnosed and unreported clinical HAT cases in Nigeria.

Chukwudi said that the mode of sustained transmission needed to be established.

The veterinarian, encouraged medical students in various capacities to access the facility for their studies and sustainability of the centre.The event was attended by the former Vice Chancellor of the UNN, Prof Benjamin Ozurumba, Prof Paul Modum and representatives of the Enugu State Primary Health Agency among others.

  • Dons Eze

    DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.

    Related Posts

    NORTHERN EMIR BANS CHURCH ACTIVITIES IN CHRISTIAN FAMILIES

    NORTHERN EMIR BANS CHURCH ACTIVITIES IN CHRISTIAN HOMES The Emir of Rano, Ambassador Muhammad Isa Umaru, has placed a strict ban on church activities inside residential buildings within the Emirate. The directive follows a wave of petitions from concerned residents, prompting the Emir to set up a special investigative committee. Findings from the committee confirmed that a church in Yadi Quarters, Rano town, was conducting services in a residential house without adhering to proper legal procedures. Rano Emirate is home to 27 certified churches, where Christians worship freely without interference. Findings from the committee confirmed that a church in Yadi Quarters, Rano town, was conducting services in a residential house without adhering to proper legal procedures. Rano Emirate is home to 27 certified churches, where Christians worship freely without interference. However, unauthorized worship in residential buildings sparked discontent among locals, leading to formal complaints. Acting on the committee’s report, the Emir swiftly ordered an immediate halt to all church activities in residential buildings to prevent any potential breach of peace. Committee Secretary, Alhaji Umar Isa Sarki, revealed that multiple petitions raised concerns over the legality of the services being held in private homes. Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Kano chapter chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

    TOO MANY PEOPLE COME TO UK TO WORK ILLEGALLY – PRIME MINISTER VOWS TO END IT

    TOO MANY PEOPLE COME TO WORK IN UK ILLEGALLY – PRIME MINISTER, VOWS TO END IT UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to take decisive action against illegal immigration, vowing to put an end to the practice of individuals entering the country to work illegally. In a statement via X on Monday, Prime Minister Starmer emphasized the need for stricter controls, stating: “Too many people are able to come to the UK and work illegally. We are putting an end to it.” In a related development, Kemi Badenoch, UK’s conservative leader, had revealed that the Conservative Party would implement significant changes in the country’s immigration policy. According to her proposal, immigration reforms will include extending the waiting period for ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ (ILR) from five to ten years. Additionally, immigrants will now have to wait five years after obtaining ILR before applying for British citizenship, increasing the total process to at least 15 years. Badenoch’s proposal also introduces stricter restrictions on eligibility. Individuals with criminal records, those dependent on social housing, or those claiming benefits will be permanently barred from settling in the UK. Furthermore, anyone who enters the country illegally or overstays their visa will be banned from ever obtaining leave to remain or British citizenship

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    ENUGU LP HOUSE OF REPS MEMBERS JOIN APC

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 12, 2025
    • 33 views

    CAMBRIDGE HONOURS NIGERIAN PHD STUDENT FOR BIAFRA HERITAGE PROJECT

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 12, 2025
    • 17 views

    NORTHERN EMIR BANS CHURCH ACTIVITIES IN CHRISTIAN FAMILIES

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 12, 2025
    • 52 views

    TOO MANY PEOPLE COME TO UK TO WORK ILLEGALLY – PRIME MINISTER VOWS TO END IT

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 12, 2025
    • 35 views

    TENSIONS RISE BETWEEN ANAMBRA, IMO OVER KILLING OF TWO RESIDENTS BY SOLUDO’S AGUNECHEMBA

    KENNETH OKONKWO QUITS LABOUR PARTY, GIVES REASONS

    • By Dons Eze
    • February 12, 2025
    • 21 views