13 February 2025, Muscat, Oman – The Ministry of Health of the Sultanate of Oman, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, inaugurated a new poliovirus laboratory in Muscat today. The laboratory will focus on testing wastewater samples from Oman and other countries in the Region.
The inauguration ceremony was held under the auspices of H.E. Dr Said bin Hareb Al Lamki, Undersecretary for Health Affairs at the Ministry of Health of Oman, and attended by WHO Representative to Oman Dr Jean Jabbour, dignitaries and Ministry of Health officials.
The state-of-the-art mobile Poliovirus Environmental Surveillance Diagnostic Laboratory, supported by WHO, will complement Oman’s ongoing efforts to test stool samples from children with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), or polio-like symptoms, from Oman and neighbouring countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
With the introduction of the new laboratory, Oman will undertake environmental surveillance to search for poliovirus at selected sites across the country.
“The Sultanate of Oman takes pride in playing a pivotal role in supporting polio eradication efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, where some countries are still grappling with poliovirus transmission,” said H.E. Dr Al Lamki.
Lauding Oman for this achievement, Dr Jabbour, WHO Representative to the Sultanate of Oman, said, “We congratulate the Sultanate of Oman for the proactive steps being taken to end polio in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. We extend our deep gratitude for the country’s visionary leadership in advancing public health. By leveraging science and innovation, Oman is demonstrating its unwavering commitment towards creating a polio-free future for every child.”
Testing conducted by Oman’s National Polio Laboratory for more than 2 decades has been critical in guiding rapid outbreak response interventions, including in Yemen.
The newly introduced laboratory and intensified efforts to search for poliovirus stand as a testament to Oman’s role in championing public health across the Region.
