By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Defence Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana has called for a deeper partnership between Nigeria and Walter Reed Army Institute of the United States of America on medical research for the benefit of the Military personnel and the civilians in Nigeria.
According to a statement by Henshaw Ogubike, Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Dr. Kana stated this when he received the leadership of Water Reed Army Institute of Research USA at the Ship House, Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary noted that the current partnership between Water Reed Institute of Research and Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme has increased the relationship between the two countries and the the Military of both countries, adding, “Your facility has been of a tremendous help not only to the military but to the entire nation”.
Speaking further, he called for more partnership in area of research not only in the treatment of diseases like malaria but as well as in the prevention. “We need to work on research of vaccine to prevent malaria which is one of the killer diseases of child of age five,” he said.
He said that such partnership would work as the US was doing well in research development. “I believe our stronger partnership in the area of research will help a lot and we can work actively in the aspect of malaria prevention vaccine. The Ministry will be happy to launch such a research programme,” Dr. Kana said.
Earlier the Director-General of Ministry of Defence Health implementation Programme, Brig -General Nathan Okeji (Rtd) described the support of Walter Reed Army Institute as excellent and has contributed in controlling the spread of HIV/ Tuberculosis.
In addition,the leader of the delegation of Walter Reed Army Institute, Air Commodore Cownell Eli Lozano assured the Permanent Secretary of the deeper commitment of the United States to continue to support the existing relationship with Nigeria.
He expressed appreciation to the Ministry for the support and commitment and emphasized the significant achievements resulting from the partnership especially in the establishment of the Defence Reference Laboratory (DRL) in Abuja.
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