The administration of the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's sprawling capital located in the highlands bordering the Great Rift Valley, and the country commercial and cultural hub, inaugurated the first Centre of Excellence in Forensic Sciences, Toxicology and Advanced DNA - based services in the country at the Menelik II Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, one of Ethiopia’s oldest and largest healthcare institutions, well known to provide high - volume, specialized tertiary care, with dedicated facilities for eye care, kidney transplants, and advanced forensic medicine.
Ethiopia has taken a significant step towards advancing scientific, medical and judicial capability with the inauguration of the country’s first integrated forensic and toxicology centre, a landmark facility expected to transform forensic investigations, genetic testing and specialised laboratory services nationwide.
The ceremony of inauguration was attended by Mayor Adamech Abiebie, along with senior government officials and health sector actors, according to information from Fana Media Corporation (FMC), a leading Ethiopian media organization formed through the merger of the former Fana Broadcasting Corporate S.C. and Walta Media.
The landmark facility eliminates the nation’s reliance on overseas testing by equipping professionals with several advanced analytical systems for state - of - the - art DNA analysis, genetic testing, and specialized toxicology diagnostics.
The new centre is equipped with approximately 80 advanced, internationally standardized analytical and diagnostic instruments that offer integrated services in forensic science, toxicology, DNA analysis, and other laboratory investigations with medical and judicial application.
A key feature of the facility is undoubtedly the introduction of a DNA Information Storage and Comparison System (CODIS), enabling more efficient scientific analysis and strengthening the country’s ability to conduct complex forensic investigations using internationally recognised methodologies, enabling genetic profiling, identity verifications, paternity testing, and determination of family ties.
The analysis operations provide highly reliable evidence (testing for poisons, drugs, and biological samples to back up criminal investigations and public legal services and with this new centre all forensic and toxicology evidence will now be processed domestically, significantly reducing turnaround time for investigations.
Addis Ababa’s Mayor stressed that, although Menelik IIospital has served the
public for more than 116 years, it has never before had a modern high – tech
forensic infrastructure like the one now houses this centre.
For her part Health Minister Mekdes Daba called the centre a major milestone
for Ethiopia’s health and justice systems, offering forensic, genetic, and
toxilogycal services under a unified framework.
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