WAHO Boosts Guinea-Bissau’s Health System With €1.5m Laboratory Equipment.

Guinea-Bissau – Aug. 26 – 24HourNews – The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has strengthened Guinea-Bissau’s public health capacity with the donation of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment valued at over €1.5 million.

The equipment, worth €1,511,499.77, was officially handed over to the Government of Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, August 19, 2026, at a ceremony held at the National Public Health Laboratory (LNSP) in Bissau.

The support forms part of the PROALAB project – Strengthening of Epidemiological Services and Health Systems in the ECOWAS Region – which is funded by the Federal Government of Germany through KfW Development Bank.

The intervention is expected to significantly enhance the diagnostic capacity of the National Public Health Laboratory, improve epidemiological surveillance and boost the country’s preparedness to respond to public health emergencies.

The handover was done by WAHO Director General, Dr. Melchior Athanase Joël C. Aïssi, who presented the equipment to the Minister of Public Health, Commodore Dr. Quinhin Nantote.

The ceremony was witnessed by the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea-Bissau, Ambassador Ngozi Ukaeje, the WAHO Focal Point in the country, Dr. Plácido Cardoso, and the Director General of the National Public Health Laboratory, Dr. Baltazar Cá.

WAHO said the donation underscores its commitment to strengthening laboratory systems and health security across the ECOWAS region.