Muscat: In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health celebrated the inauguration of a mobile standard laboratory dedicated to environmental diagnostic testing for poliovirus on Thursday.
The event featured representation from the Public Health Laboratories at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
During the ceremony, Dr. Said bin Harib Al Lamki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs and the chief guest, emphasized the importance of collaboration and strategic partnerships between the Health Ministry and WHO in executing various health programs and initiatives, particularly those aimed at monitoring and eradicating polio.
Dr. Jean Yaacoub Jabbour, WHO Representative in the Sultanate of Oman, remarked that the laboratory's opening signifies Oman’s dedication to the global eradication of poliovirus. He noted that Oman has joined other countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region that are engaged in environmental monitoring.
Jabbour highlighted that the laboratory not only facilitates the detection of poliovirus in wastewater but also serves as an early warning system for potential poliovirus transmission.
Oman’s Poliovirus Standard Environmental Diagnostic Laboratory is accredited by WHO and is integral to environmental surveillance systems, identifying poliovirus in environmental water samples, including wastewater.
The establishment of this new laboratory marks a significant advancement in the enhancement of health services in the Sultanate of Oman. Its inauguration underscores the Health Ministry’s continuous efforts to bolster diagnostic and epidemiological surveillance capabilities, ultimately benefiting community health.
The laboratory analyzes stool samples from children exhibiting acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) or polio-like symptoms in the region.
Health laboratories play a vital role in the fight against infectious diseases and in improving the rapid response to epidemics and health crises. This initiative by the Ministry of Health aims to create a state-of-the-art infrastructure that incorporates the latest technologies and adheres to international standards, thereby delivering precise and high-quality laboratory services.
The Environmental Poliovirus Surveillance System (EPSS) is designed to strengthen polio surveillance efforts in the Sultanate of Oman. Its implementation will support the existing AFP surveillance system, enhancing the ability to detect poliovirus in both humans and the environment at an early stage.
