The
leading Health Research Council in West Africa to save lives and improve health
across the world, MRC, Thursday boosted the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
with the donation of Colorimeters to be shared with five government health
facilities in the country, for Clinical Chemistry analyses of cerebrospinal
fluid CSF in aid of meningitis diagnosis.
The
ceremony was held at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, graced by the
Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services on behalf of the Minister of Health
and Social Welfare.
The
mission of MRC Gambia is to deliver innovative, world-leading research aimed at
reducing the burden of illness and death in low- and middle-income countries,
supported by an enabling research environment.
It
is also to maintain the ability to attract and retain the highest calibre of
staff by ensuring that MRCG’s reputation for scientific integrity, quality and
excellence is preserved.
According
to a press release by MRCG, the Colorimeters donated would be shared among five
Government health facilities in the Country.
The
release further stated that the handing over of equipment to these public
health facilities along with training of their laboratory staff is part of the
Unit’s commitment to strengthening surveillance of invasive Haemophilus
influenza type B Hib infection in The Gambia.
The
project seeks to understand the current epidemiology and microbiology of
invasive Hib disease in The Gambia and help to facilitate the microbiological
processing and testing of patient specimen in order to identify causative
organism(s) of meningitis and their antibiotic sensitivity.
This
enhances overall meningitis surveillance efforts in West Coast Region (WCR).
The
study is conducted by MRCG in collaboration with NPHL and Ministry of Health
and Social Welfare through various health facilities including Edward Francis
Small Teaching Hospital, Serekunda Hospital, Brikama District Hospital, Fajikunda
Major Health Centre, Jammeh Foundation for Peace Hospital and Sulayman Junkung
Jammeh General Hospital.
