Radar | Sep 11,2020
A fund secured from the federal government will finance a new laboratory for Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI). Officials of the Ministry of Health expect the centre to be completed and operational in the coming three months.
The centre’s construction began three years ago on the premises of Alert Hospital, a treatment centre for leprosy, in the capital. It is designed to be an upgraded high-standard laboratory facility, serving as a hub for research run under the Institute.
The Institute was established in 1970 through the initiative of the Norwegian and Swedish Save the Children organizations. Partnering with the Ministry of Health since 2004, it serves as a hub for technology transfer and capacity building in the medical sector. It covers research in immunology, molecular biology, epidemiological, and translational.
“The new centre is vital to address diagnostic and health concerns,” said Alemseged Chane (MD), deputy director of AHRI.
His voice is echoed by those in the academic circle and industry insiders.
Gemeda Abebe (PhD), a lecturer at Jimma University School of Medicine and manager of a mycobacteriology research centre, said the centre would provide the foundation for Ethiopia to develop its public health guidelines.
Constructed on a 4,000sqm land, the laboratory has a wide range of services housing nearly 74 modern clinical research laboratories, 300 offices, and a conference room hosting nearly 600 people. The federal government earmarked a 545 million Br budget for the centre’s construction.
Yared Hirpo, deputy director for The Chinese-owned Sansheng Pharmaceutical Plc, hopes the laboratory under construction will provide input in setting up drug formulas and testing services for in-house pharmaceutical manufacturers. Sansheng Pharmaceutical began operations four years ago in Dukem Eastern Industrial Zone. It employed 350 workers until recently.
“The centre will help strengthen the loosely controlled system by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of medicines manufactured locally,” said Gezachew Kedida, executive director of the Ethiopian Medical Laboratory Association.
For Tadesse Moges, director of infrastructure development at the Ministry of Health, the centre will perform extensive research supported by laboratory facilities.
Santa Maria Construction Plc was hired three years ago to undertake the construction of the facility designed by Yohannes Abbay Consulting Architects & Engineers.
Santa Maria Construction, a grade-one company, has been in business since 1983, taking on projects for over two decades, including St. Peter, Eka Kotebe, and St. Paulos hospitals maternity ward.
However, price escalation in construction materials and design revision caused delays, although 94pc of the project is completed.
“Close to 15pc of price escalation is encountered after the construction begins,” disclosed Zekarias Dejen, a project manager for Santa Maria Construction.
According to Zekarias foreign currency shortages have also contributed to the delay; nearly all finishing materials were imported.
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