Kinshasa, June 18th,2026 (CPA).- Laboratory materials and equipment were handed over on Thursday during a ceremony in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to the management of the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to strengthen early detection capacity, case confirmation and health risk management. “This official handover of materials and equipment to the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) of Kinshasa comes at a critical time as the country is responding to the 17th Ebola virus disease outbreak declared in the eastern part of the country. These facilities will directly strengthen early detection capacity, case confirmation and health risk management,” said Abdoul Nasser Ibrahim, FAO Representative in the DRC. The package includes a state-of-the-art real-time thermocycler, a refrigerator for sample preservation, laboratory reagents and consumables, sample collection and transport materials, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE). “These resources will contribute not only to the fight against the current outbreak but also to combating other zoonotic threats affecting the animal health sector,” he added. The strategic support package is valued at US$83,207.50. Mr. Abdoul Nasser reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting the Congolese Government in addressing the challenge of improving food security by ensuring the early detection of health threats and responding to them effectively.
Modernization of the animal health system
For his part, Central Veterinary Laboratory Director Dr. Constant Sibitali thanked FAO for its commitment to strengthening the animal health system in the DRC and for recognizing the laboratory’s strategic role in disease surveillance, diagnosis and control. “The receipt of this laboratory equipment marks an important milestone in the modernization process of the Central Veterinary Laboratory of Kinshasa,” he said, stressing that these tools will enhance technical capacities, improve the quality of laboratory analyses and support national efforts to prevent and control animal diseases, particularly those with zoonotic potential. Dr. Sibitali also expressed his gratitude to FAO for its continued support and to the Ministry in charge of Fisheries and Livestock for its commitment to developing the veterinary sector. “These facilities will be used optimally to contribute effectively to the protection of animal health, food safety and the improvement of people’s livelihoods,” he concluded. The handover forms part of the project aimed at strengthening pandemic preparedness and response capacities through the One Health approach in the DRC, financed by the Pandemic Fund.