The inauguration of the laboratory took place this Wednesday and was guided by Carlos Alberto Pinto de Sousa, Secretary of State for Public Health, who, on the occasion, made it known that this unit will enable the determination of diagnoses of diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, among others that are sexually transmitted.
With a processing capacity of 288 samples per day and equipped with cutting-edge technology, the laboratory respects all international standards, and will reach 24 thousand tests per year, informed Carlos Alberto Pinto de Sousa, cited by Angop.
With this unit, he said, the Ministry of Health wants to improve diagnostic capacity, as well as provide service to the provinces of Benguela, Namibe, Huíla, Cunene, Cuanza Sul, Huambo and Bié. Among the guardianship's intentions, the person in charge said that it also includes increasing the capacity to carry out exams in the country, with the numbers rising from 65 thousand to 90 thousand per year.
He also left guarantees that this laboratory will allow us to obtain results faster and with better quality, aiming to alleviate problems related to sexually transmitted diseases (HIV, hepatitis, etc.).
Quoted by Angop, the Secretary of State said that biosafety issues are covered, as well as ensuring the functioning of staff, whose activities will be carried out on a shift basis.
Among other aspects, he explained that the transport of samples from other provinces to Benguela will be done by Macon's 'wheels'.
In turn, Alcídio Alenge, manager of block zero of the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) – the company that offered the laboratory, as part of its social responsibility – said that this is another initiative within the scope of the State partnership, which aims to support the national health system, adding that this infrastructure will satisfy demand, with better diagnostic accuracy.
Also speaking on the occasion was António Cabinda, director of the Provincial Health Office in Benguela, who, cited by Angop, considered that the project will allow a better service to patients in terms of the waiting period for diagnosis.
