Head of Virology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Prof. William Kwabena Ampofo has revealed that measures are being put in place by the Ghana Health Service to introduce mobile testing for the novel coronavirus in the country.
According to him, when introduced, it will help reduce the stress the frontline health workers go through at the various hospitals.
Addressing Journalists in Accra, the Head of Virology Department said "Ghana Health Authorities are putting measures in place for the mobile testing of Covid-19 infections in due course. The equipments have arrived while the training of personnel to undertake the testing had started" He added that although the the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has begun piloting the programme, the Ministries of Finance and Health are funding the bulk supply of laboratory equipment and medical supplies from China to ramp-up COVID-19 testing.
It is emerging that the money testing directive came up following the recent shortage of reagents and other medical supplies in the country, which impeded testing samples and thus, delayed the release of test results.
ThinkNewsOnline has gathered that the first consignment of bulk supplies arrived in Accra on Saturday, July 4, from China whiles the second batch arrived on July 9.
It is emerging that the third consignment is expected to arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 10, and subsequently be airlifted by the Ethiopian Airlines to Ghana. The equipments and medical supplies received include; 100,000 scrubs, 150,000 sample collection medium, 100,000 KN95 masks, more than 700,000 natural examination gloves and 260,000 PCR devices for Covid-19 testing.
The Head of Virology also added that once the medical logistics arrives, the network of laboratories testing for COVID-19 would be conducting between 100,000 and 300,000 tests.
"On the use of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for testing, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) had not yet approved any RDT for mass testing. However, health authorities are considering plans to use RDT to test persons who had recovered from COVID-19 after 14 days of discharge to determine their immune status and ascertain whether they had developed antibodies against the virus" he added.
Prof. Ampofo praised the dedicated laboratory staff across the 10 testing sites for their tireless efforts likewise corporate entities, who extended their support.
It is emerging that both the Ministry of Health and Finance are looking forward to recruiting more graduates to enhance their manpower base. Currently, Ghana has recorded 641 new cases of COVID-19, pushing the tally to 23,463.
ThinkNewsOnline has also gathered that the country has also recorded 18,622 clinical recoveries; 4,717 active cases, while the death toll still remains at 129.
There are, however, 26 severe cases, eight patients in critical condition and six on ventilators.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith