A new partnership was announced today (18 May) between the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Kenya Ministry of Health to support the expansion of Kenya government’s testing capacity for Covid-19.
Supported by the German Federal Government, ILRI, along with its sister institute World Agroforestry (ICRAF), are providing advanced bioscience laboratories, equipment, technical staff and services to assist Kenya’s national efforts in control of Covid-19.
The testing will take place at the One Health Research, Education and Outreach Centre for Africa (OHRECA) based at ILRI.
Scientists preparing samples in biosafety level III facilities at ILRI laboratory (photo credit ILRIPaul Karaimu)
This new centre, which is due to be officially opened later this year, has been funded by The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The centre will promote a One Health research-for-development approach designed to enhance the health of people, animals and environment in a holistic manner.
The new One Health Centre at ILRI will build on the existing state-of-the-art agricultural research facilities for capacity building, training and development located at ILRI, which include the CTLGH laboratory, the Biosciences eastern and central Africa-ILRI Hub, the CGIAR Antimicrobial Resistance Hub and ILRI’s Mazingira (‘Environment’) Centre
“Having long-standing close relations with the government of Kenya, ILRI is delighted to be able to support Kenya’s efforts to respond to this pandemic and, through ILRI’s new One Health Centre, to help Kenya and other countries mitigate future disease risks.”
—Jimmy Smith, Director General of ILRI
The information in this article was taken from a press release originally drafted by Ekta Patel from ILRI and is used with her permission. You can read the full ILRI press release here.