On January 24, 2025, the Director General of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (MODHIP) led a high-level team on an operational visit to the 661 Nigerian Air Force Hospital (NAFH) Laboratory in Ikeja, Lagos. The team arrived at the laboratory complex at 12:08 hrs and was warmly received by the Laboratory Director, Group Captain A.E. Bello. Accompanying the team were the Commander of 661 AFH, the Commanding Officer Clinical Services, and other senior officers.

The visit began with a briefing session held in the conference room. Group Captain Bello welcomed the DG and his delegation and provided a detailed overview of the laboratory’s operations, milestones, and aspirations. The briefing highlighted the laboratory’s current standing, recent achievements, and the various challenges they continue to navigate in delivering high-quality diagnostic services.

Following the presentation, the delegation embarked on a guided tour of the laboratory facilities. The tour included key areas such as the main diagnostic laboratory, the training laboratory, and the classroom used for staff development. These site inspections offered the DG an opportunity to observe firsthand the laboratory’s infrastructure, workflow, and staff engagement.

During the visit, the DG expressed admiration for the lab’s recognition as a 5-star accredited laboratory by the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM). He praised the leadership and technical team for their commitment to excellence and innovation in laboratory science.

He challenged the laboratory team to work toward achieving international accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), a globally recognized standard of laboratory excellence. Reassuring the team of MODHIP’s support, the DG promised to provide the necessary technical assistance, equipment upgrades, and training required to meet A2LA benchmarks.

In addition to infrastructure and diagnostic discussions, the visit included a presentation by Flying Officer I.M. Amidu on the subject of pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) monitoring. The officer emphasized the importance of establishing a robust system for tracking and reporting adverse drug effects in clinical settings. The DG welcomed this insight and reiterated MODHIP’s commitment to strengthening drug safety protocols within all programme-supported health facilities.

The visit concluded with a note of encouragement from the DG, who commended the synergy between the clinical, laboratory, and training components of the facility. He called on the leadership to maintain high standards while remaining open to capacity building, partnerships, and research collaborations. The engagement at 661 NAFH Laboratory exemplified MODHIP’s dedication to improving diagnostic capacity and fostering health system excellence across military health institutions in Nigeria.