Entomology laboratory inaugurated in capital

US-funded lab to strengthen Pakistan's ability to track and respond to the outbreak of vector-borne diseases

ISLAMABAD:

US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Schofer inaugurated a US-funded entomology laboratory that will strengthen Pakistan's ability to track and respond to the outbreak of vector-borne diseases.

Federal Secretary at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination Dr Muhammad Fakhre Alam Irfan and Pakistani National Institute of Health Chief Executive Officer Ghazal Parveen Schofer were also present.

"The devastating 2022 floods across Pakistan reminded us all of the health risks posed by waterborne diseases," Schofer said. "The United States stands with Pakistan as it continues to recover from the floods."

The laboratory, funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the latest milestone in the longstanding US-Pakistan health partnership.

For decades, the United States and Pakistan have collaborated closely to support the health of the Pakistani people. After both the 2010 and the 2022 floods, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experts travelled to Pakistan to consult with Pakistani and UN partners about how to effectively respond to the health crises stemming from the flooding.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2023.