The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has described the inauguration of a new tuberculosis modular laboratory at the Defence Research Laboratory, Abuja as a landmark achievement in the fight against infectious diseases.
The laboratory, which enhances Nigeria’s capacity to diagnose and treat TB, was hailed as a “game-changer” by the Ambassador, underscoring the deep and long-standing partnership between Nigeria and the United States in the health sector.
In his remarks at the inauguration on Tuesday, Mills highlighted that Nigeria is home to the U.S. government’s largest health programming budget globally, a testament to the importance the U.S. places on its relationship with Africa’s most populous nation.
According to her, “I am proud to say that the U.S. government’s investment in the health of Nigerians matches Nigeria’s stature on the continent. In fact, Nigeria is home to our largest health programming budget worldwide.
“This is a substantial investment, made possible by the generosity of the American people, and allows us to provide crucial funding and technical assistance across a whole range of health priorities,” he noted.
The Ambassador emphasised that the substantial investment, funded by the American people, supports a wide array of health initiatives, from combating major diseases like HIV, malaria, mpox, and tuberculosis to broader efforts in maternal and child health, immunisation, and global health security.
