Key Diagnostics boosted in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Oct. 6, 2021 - PRLog -- The systems are the first of their kind in the country, installed at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College-SPHMMC.

While the instruments were originally to be inaugurated as key diagnostics tools for COVID-19, they have opened a gateway to many other important diagnostics functions including taking aim at moving Ethiopia closer towards the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals and improving access to other diagnostics for more patients.

"As healthcare in Ethiopia and across Africa evolves, so do the needs of laboratories and ultimately patients. The cobas® 6800 and 8800 are the first very high throughput, fully integrated laboratory automation systems with a broad diagnostics menu, capable of addressing a variety of different diagnostics areas in the country and we are proud to be able to bring these instruments into this market", says William Kuan, Head of Marketing and Communications – South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa at Roche Diagnostics.

The arrival of the systems in Ethiopia is the result of a strategic partnership between Ethiopian Government, Roche Diagnostics and Retina Pharmaceuticals, funded jointly by public and private sector contributors.

The multi-functional 6800 and 8800 instruments have the capacity, among other diagnostic functions, to perform Nucleic Acid testing (NAT) Blood screening, HIV viral load testing, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) testing, SARS-COV-2 PCR, Hepatitis and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) molecular testing which World Health Organisation recommends over a traditional pap smear.

"The era of sending samples abroad for testing has to come to an end. We at Retina Pharmaceuticals believe that all Ethiopian samples should be tested in Ethiopia. Through strong partnerships like the one with Roche Diagnostics, we are able to bring these molecular testing solutions to the country and further contribute towards our healthcare system," says Deme Gurmessa General Manager, Retina Pharmaceuticals."

The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the value of diagnostic solutions in disease prevention. The launch of these instruments showcases Roche Diagnostics' and Retina Pharmaceuticals' continued commitment to health for every African.

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