The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has inaugurated a Lassa Fever Virology Diagnostic Treatment Centre worth N350 million. The Diagnostic centre was built by the Ebonyi state Government.

Also present at the inauguration was the Minister of Agriculture; Chief Audu Ogbeh and the Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi.

Adewole showed his elation during the ceremony at the proactive step by the state government when he said he was excited that a state government could embark on such a life-saving centre without any prompting by the federal government.

He said the federal government would run the facility in partnership with the state to ensure its success, adding that the centre would be converted to South-East Diagnostic and Treatment Centre.

He said “I am actually short of words; I am yet to recover from the shock over this giant stride. This actually surpasses my expectations and I must say clearly that we should see this as a partnership.

Earlier, the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, said he was moved to build the centre when he saw people die of Lassa fever virus.

He said “the health of our people is very paramount to our administration. We watched helplessly our people dying of this deadly disease and so the CMD told us that for over 10 years, they have been begging that this centre be built and we have to swing into action.

Meanwhile, Adewole stated that the Federal government wants to build six virology centres in the country and the budget process have been made and signed by the president in May.