New lab equipment strengthens healthcare services for children in vulnerable settings

14 August 2023
Lab
QIAGEN

Children and families in a number of provinces will access enhanced healthcare services thanks to a set of new diagnostic lab equipment procured by UNICEF. The advanced technological equipment and standard laboratory tools procured upon the request of the Ministry of Health will improve the precision and quality of diagnostic and treatment health services offered to children and their families, particularly for respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

The equipment was provided to the Ministry of Health reference labs in six selected provinces with a high number of vulnerable population, namely Sistan and Baluchistan, Kurdistan, Yazd, Khorasan Jonoubi, Hormozgan and Tehran.

Respiratory and gastrointestinal infections pose significant threats to children resulting in elevated rates of mortality, a situation exacerbated among refugee children with compromised health conditions. By facilitating swift disease diagnosis and timely intervention, this initiative aims to curtail these outcomes and simultaneously curb the inappropriate or excessive use of antibiotics.

Drawing from the lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic and the influx of Afghan refugees, UNICEF supports the Ministry of Health and Medical Education to fortify the diagnosis network, prioritising areas at heightened risk, particularly those along the borders.

Media contacts

Mehdi Sayyari
Communications Officer
UNICEF
Tel: 02122594994
Tel: 09103252806

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