Namibia receives a mobile epidemiological laboratory from Russia

Russia recently handed over a mobile laboratory to Namibia to aid the Southern African country in early disease detection.

• Russia has given Namibia a mobile laboratory to help with early disease detection and strengthen the country’s biological protection.
• The pneumoframe mobile lab can perform over 800 tests daily and is valued at more than N$13 million.
• Namibian health workers are currently being trained by Russian specialists to ensure proper use of the equipment.
• Russia has deployed similar laboratories in several African nations and plans to deliver more to Ethiopia and Congo by the end of 2024.

The Russian health agency disclosed that the pneumoframe mobile laboratory would be used to detect dangerous infections and bolster the country’s biological protection system.

This is coming almost a year after the Russian Ambassador Dmitry Lovach disclosed to the media that Russia would send over a mobile anti-epidemic laboratory.

It is also coming a few months after Namibia received a mobile lab and specialist Training from the Kremlin.

“As part of this cooperation, Russia will also donate a mobile laboratory to Namibia and train local specialists to operate it.

This high-tech facility can conduct over 800 tests per day and is valued at over N$13 million,” the ambassador stated in August of last year.

According to the developers of the lab, Rospotrebnadzor, Namibian health practitioners are currently receiving training from their Russian counterparts to guarantee appropriate usage of the equipment.

In 2024, Russia focused its efforts on Ethiopia and Congo, with the intention of delivering a mobile laboratory before the end of the year.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Tatiana Golikova, noted that the lab would be similar to those already in use in Uganda and Burundi.

“The geographical scope of Russian mobile laboratories is expanding. This year they have been deployed in Burundi and Uganda, and by the end of the year Russian laboratories will be delivered to the Republic of Congo and Ethiopia,” Tatiana Golikova said at the time.

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“Today, Russian specialists work with foreign colleagues in 4 infectious disease research centers established in the last 7 years – in Guinea, Vietnam, Venezuela and Burundi,” she added.

In September of 2024, Russia put together workshops in the capital city of Congo, Brazzaville.

The training sessions addressed modern mpox detection methods and other pertinent topics.

Currently, 11 African nations have received 20 mobile epidemiological laboratories from Russia, including ones for Ebola response.

The transfer is a component of Moscow’s larger public health and pandemic preparation collaboration with African countries.