Anna Popova: Russia Ready to Train Epidemiologists for Republic of Congo's National Institute

On April 23, a visit by Head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova to the National Institute of Biology and Sanitary Surveillance took place in Pointe-Noire, a correspondent for African Initiative reports.

"The Institute of Biology and Sanitary Surveillance is a cutting-edge facility in the fields of diagnostics, epidemiological monitoring, and scientific research. The institute was recently opened by the President of the Republic on November 17, 2025. It is a nationally significant structure whose mission is to become a reference system in the areas of biology, research, diagnostics, and genomic surveillance," said the institution's director, Luc Anicet Malouard Boumba.

The institute includes several specialized laboratories — microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and emergency diagnostics — and is focused on developing genomic surveillance for infectious diseases.

However, the institute's leadership noted a shortage of qualified personnel, particularly in bioinformatics, as well as a need for additional equipment, consumables, and mobile units for operations in hard-to-reach regions of the country.

Anna Popova emphasized Russia's readiness to share cutting-edge solutions in the field of epidemiological control. According to her, the Russian system can identify a pathogen within 12 hours in cases of group disease outbreaks, with a detection rate reaching 98.9%.

"We will certainly include the directions we discussed in the plan for our further interaction. Regarding personnel training — we are ready to organize training both in Russia and through exchanges here in the Republic of Congo," Popova said during the meeting.

The head of Rospotrebnadzor also spoke about the development of modern test systems, including rapid diagnostics and multiplex solutions capable of simultaneously detecting several infections, as well as the ability to create new PCR tests in the shortest possible time.

"Today, Russia is completely independent of imported test systems. And we are ready to share our experience and capabilities with our partners," Anna Popova concluded.

Earlier, the head of Rospotrebnadzor and the Minister of Health and Population of Congo, Jean Roser-Ibara, signed a memorandum on the creation of a Russian-Congolese Center for Epidemiology and Infection Prevention. According to Anna Popova, Russian specialists will soon travel to the Republic of Congo to work out the practical aspects of launching the center. Its creation will be overseen by representatives of Rospotrebnadzor's Virom Research Institute of Viral Infections.