A new laboratory at the Labasa Hospital will help map out sampling points with chances of finding typhoid in the North, says Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu.
While opening the facility that is fully funded by UNICEF for the Ty-FIVE Project, Dr Atonio said the lab capacity would transfer technology and capacity through water sampling for salmonella in Labasa.
“There will be a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the vaccination campaign,” he said.
“This lab will carry out, and is already doing so, monthly sampling of around 30 sites before and after the Ty-FIVE vaccination campaign.
“The data and information from this laboratory would be most useful for combating typhoid.”
Dr Atonio said the location of the laboratory was strategic as the capability of this lab was one of a kind in the country pertaining to typhoid.
“The initial Ty-FIVE Program is aimed at strengthening the existing typhoid surveillance capacity for the Northern, support the mass vaccination against typhoid and assist in monitoring and assessment of the typhoid vaccine effectiveness and impact.”
This, he said, would be used to exchange relevant data and information needed for the ongoing vaccine surveillance program.
