Uganda partners with Abbott Technologies to manufacture Hi Sense Malaria Tools (VIDEO)
As Uganda ramps up the fight against Malaria, the Ministry of Health has urged for the improvement of laboratory services to help in the fight against killer diseases.
Health minister Dr Ruth Aceng says the improvement is to enable laboratories not only trace parasites but also treat infections.
In the past, a malaria test would involve a technician drawing blood from a patient, smear that blood on a slide and stain it with a special dye.
However, with the use of a microscope, a technician is now able to not just confirm infection but also tell the number of parasites in the blood.
Programs Manager Malaria Control programme Dr Jimmy Opigo says the older method was ineffective. The test could only confirm infection when the patient was already experiencing symptoms like vomiting, high temperature, body weakness and fever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qq4M3wT7C0
Dr Aceng says the new technology brought on board by the partnership with Abbott technologies will develop a HI Sense RDT Test technology to improve diagnostics.
The technology will be used in people with low density malaria levels, it is being rolled out across the country and a survey will follow on effectives.
The technology will be used in people with low density malaria levels. It is being rolled out across the country and a survey will follow on effectives.
Dr Opigo says the tests conducted will be 10 times stronger and used to detect and fight infections.
According to Dr Opigo this will also help in recording malaria cases where tests are done. Uganda is among the 5 contributing countries of the malaria burden recording over new 300,000 cases a year and over 5000 deaths.
