The Pasteur Institute of the Ivory Coast (IPCI), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), officially inaugurated and handed over the keys to the Department of Epidemic Viruses (DVE).
This formal ceremony, sponsored by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Adama Diawara, and the Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage, Mr. Pierre N’gou Dimba, brought together prominent national and international figures.
A modern tool for addressing health crises
In his speech, the Director of the IPCI, Prof. Méité Syndou, recalled that the creation of this department represents a decisive step for Côte d’Ivoire in the fight against viral epidemics.
“This rehabilitation, the result of close collaboration with our technical and financial partners, constitutes an essential milestone in the modernisation of our health system,” he declared, welcoming the support of the WHO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and all partners.
According to him, the DVE, equipped with modern laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment, will enable Côte d’Ivoire to be better prepared to face emerging health threats, particularly pandemics such as COVID-19 and Ebola.
Strengthened research and training
For Professor Adama Diawara, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the rehabilitation of the DVE breathes new life into scientific research in Côte d’Ivoire.
“We have not just modernised a laboratory: we have created a new space where scientific excellence and quality can fully develop,” he emphasised, stressing the importance of training the next generation of researchers.
He also highlighted the impact of this modernisation on international cooperation and the country’s scientific influence in West Africa.
A bulwark against pandemics
The ceremony’s co-sponsor, Mr. Pierre N’gou Dimba, Minister of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage, reiterated that this project constitutes a “bulwark” against future epidemic threats.
“This department is not just a collection of laboratories: it is a care and early warning centre, a central player in the national response to health emergencies,” he stated.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Ivorian government and its technical and financial partners, particularly the WHO, for their continued support.
Support from WHO and partners
On behalf of the World Health Organisation, Mr. Lucien Manga welcomed a major step forward for health security in Côte d’Ivoire and the region.
He emphasised that this project, worth approximately $400,000, is part of the implementation of International Health Regulations and the strengthening of sequencing and epidemiological surveillance capacities.
Tribute to Prof. Mireille Dosso
The ceremony was also marked by a glowing tribute to Professor Mireille Dosso, former Director of the IPCI, for her remarkable contribution to the development of research and public health in Côte d’Ivoire.
The symbolic cutting of the ribbon and a tour of the new premises of the Department of Epidemic Viruses concluded this ceremony, rich in commitments and prospects.
With this new scientific tool, Côte d’Ivoire affirms its desire to strengthen its resilience in the face of health crises, while consolidating its place as a benchmark centre for research and public health in West Africa.
The DVE houses several WHO reference laboratories: the Inter-Country Reference Laboratory for Polio (Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, and Liberia); the Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella in West and Central Africa; and the National Reference Laboratory for Arboviruses and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers.
