HJFMRI in Nigeria

A man in a white lab coat looks into a microscope.

HJFMRI in Nigeria

HJFMRI Ltd/Gte in Nigeria works with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research-Africa to collaborate with governmental, medical, and scientific institutions to strengthen defenses against infectious diseases within Nigeria and the greater West African region. Based out of Abuja, the program works closely with the Nigerian Ministries of Defence and Health to implement HIV prevention, care, and treatment through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). HJFMRI also supports malaria diagnostic capacity through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). HJFMRI supports research partners' missions to guard against regional epidemics and build research capabilities through participation in clinical trials, data analysis, and biosurveillance activities.

News & Updates

Precision at Work - Inside the Defence Reference Laboratory’s Ancillary Calibration Laboratory

On the hills of Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria, in a modest but bustling facility tucked away from public view, testing, precision, accuracy, traceability, and cost-efficiency are the pillars that define the Defence Reference Laboratory’s (DRL) Calibration Laboratory.

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US-Nigeria Partnership Bolters Health Outcomes with the Commissioning of TB Modular Laboratory

In a significant advancement for Nigeria's public health infrastructure, the TB Modular Laboratory, located at the Defence Reference Laboratory in Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, was officially commissioned on August 20, 2024. This state-of-the-art facility represents a new chapter in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria, further strengthening the ongoing partnership between Nigeria and the United States in advancing health outcomes across the nation.

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From Despair to Triumph: Charity’s Journey of Resilience and Empowerment

Charity’s life took an unexpected turn when she was taken from her village to Abuja, Nigeria’s bustling capital, by a relative who promised her a better life. However, upon arrival, those promises crumbled into a harsh reality. Charity was forced to work as a waiter and sex worker in the restaurant and guest house owned by her relative. Her life was fraught with exploitation and abuse.

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Participants in Nigeria vaccinated in first-ever Phase 2 Lassa fever vaccine clinical trial

Participants at HJF Medical Research International in Abuja, Nigeria, have been vaccinated in the first Phase 2 clinical trial of a Lassa fever virus (LASV) vaccine candidate to date, according to IAVI, a nonprofit scientific research organization and the trial sponsor. The study (IAVI C105/PREVAIL15) is funded by CEPI, an innovative global partnership working to accelerate the development of vaccines against epidemic and pandemic threats.

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WRAIR Africa and MOD-HIP Organize Meeting to Enhance Health Services

On May 9-10, 2024, a gathering of esteemed health officials, military site commanders, and team leaders from the 31 program sites of the Ministry of Defence – Health Implementation Programme (MOD-HIP), in collaboration with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Africa (WRAIR), took place in Abuja, Nigeria. The purpose of this meeting was to assess progress of the partnership on defense health between Nigeria and the United States, which endeavors to deliver high-quality health services to both military personnel and civilians in Nigeria.

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Turning the Tide: An Inspiring Journey from Depression to Hope and Empowerment after HIV Diagnosis

When Edith Okafor, a 50-year-old widow and caregiver of four boys, walked into the Clinical Training and Research Centre (CTRC), 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna (NARHK) to begin antiretroviral therapy in April 2007, she had no idea that that encounter would become the beacon of hope in her state of despair.

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HJFMRI Opens New Health Innovations Center in Nigeria

September 28, 2023, marked a significant milestone, as HJF Medical Research International Ltd/Gte. (HJFMRI Ltd/Gte.) celebrated the grand opening of its new office in Abuja, Nigeria. The new facility named, the Health Innovations Centre (HIC) is situated in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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Walter Reed Program-Nigeria and CDC Join Forces to Empower Adolescents Against Gender-based Violence

WRP-N hosted ‘No Means No’ training for youths, where they were equipped with essential skills and knowledge to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

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HJFMRI Supports Mpox Training in Nigeria

HJFMRI supported partners The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, USAMRD-A, and other local collaborators in Nigeria to complete mpox Public Outreach and Sample Collection Training in March/April 2022, funded by a grant from the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

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CASE STUDY: Work with Key Populations Informs New National Guidelines

Successful PEPFAR-funded outreach efforts to engage key populations helped inform new national HIV and STI service delivery guidelines in Nigeria.

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Clinical Research

HJFMRI supports the Clinical Research Centre (CRC) in Abuja, Nigeria, a regional leader in clinical research, especially vaccine trials. The CRC helps develop countermeasures against infectious disease threats of public health importance ranging from HIV to Lassa fever and, most recently, mpox. This partnership also provides a conducive environment for the training of future generations of scientists.

Malaria

HJMFRI in Nigeria and partners support the President’s Malaria Initiative to substantially to reduce the malaria burden in Africa. With PMI funding, the Nigerian Ministry of Defence and U.S. DOD is building capacity for malaria diagnosis, supporting three malaria training centers in Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna. 

PEPFAR

Since 2005, HJFMRI has provided PEPFAR-funded HIV prevention, care, and treatment interventions in Nigeria alongside WRAIR and local governments and organizations. Implementation focuses on military and civilian populations in Nigerian Ministry of Defence health facilities and barrack communities through community and clinical services.