Here's what Ghana has achieved in its fight against coronavirus

Ghana, like any other country, is feverishly looking around for ways to tackle the giant of a virus; COVID-19, which is gradually bringing the world to a standstill.

The government indeed has exhibited leadership on many fronts, taking hard decisions in the interest of the nation but it is not just government; private institutions, frontline workers, individuals, churches and groups have all shown immense commitment to fighting the pandemic.

With a total of 2074 confirmed cases of the disease in the country, Ghana is now 5th on the ranking of high recorded cases of Coronavirus in Africa, with Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, and Algeria leading with 5,042, 4,996, 4,246 and 3,649 cases respectively.

Amidst all this, it is important to note that the country has made some significant progress and still is working frantically to do more. The country’s scientists have also not failed to show up in these trying times as they do more to find an eventual solution to this canker.

March 12 saw the country record its first two cases of novel Coronavirus, since then, these are some of the major strides the country can boast of achieving in its battle:

UG scientists identify components of coronavirus



Scientists at one of the country’s biggest universities; the University of Ghana, almost a month after the outbreak of the disease in the country, successfully sequenced genomes of SARS-CoV-2; the virus responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic, an undisputed huge stride for the country.

Genome sequencing involves the compilation of the most comprehensive information about an organism’s genetic makeup. 15 samples from travellers from the UK, Norway, Hungary, India, US and the United Arab Emirates and 9 others with no travel history were analysed, according to a communique from the University’s Public Affairs Directorate.

The information from scientists both from the Noguchi Memorial Institute and Medical Research and West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens both at the University of Ghana, was a great step towards the identification of the components and behavioural patterns of the disease, which will subsequently help in the manufacturing of drugs and vaccines to counter the pathogens.

GHS employs drones to deliver samples for testing



Ghana was lauded by many around the globe after its Health Service (GHS), as part of enhanced measures to fight COVID-19, employed the services of the Zipline Medical Drones to deliver COVID-19 samples for testing.

The test flight conducted on April 17 was successful, seeing samples from remote parts of the Ashanti region being delivered to the capital, Kumasi for testing.

The successful delivery of the Coronavirus samples by the drone is further proof of the technology’s usefulness and contribution to medical delivery in the country.

It also formed part of the GHS’ efforts to embark on intensive contact tracing and testing. Following the move, International news portals, New York Times and Reuters reported the feat, with the TIME magazine lauding Ghana’s efforts in an extensive, well-researched article published on its website with the title; Drones are delivering COVID-19 tests in Ghana. Could the US be the next?.

Shortly after this, the United Kingdom followed suit, with its British Transport Secretary, Grant Shaps, announcing the move as part of measures to improve testing in the country.

Enhanced testing

Ghana was ranked among the top 20 countries in the world testing for coronavirus in terms of per capita, making it one of the leading countries in the world embarking on massive testing for COVID-19 as far as a country's population and rate of testing is concerned.

In fact, earlier this month, April 2020, Ghana was ranked the second-best African country actively engaged in contact tracing, led by South Africa. With a population of about 30 million people, over 1 million have so far been tested through surveillance and contact tracing methods.

With a number of institutions including the Noguchi Memorial Institute and the Kumasi Research Institute, contact tracing and routine surveillance, and mandatory quarantine have been intensified, bringing the country’s current number of tests done to 106, 090.

KNUST, Incas develop rapid diagnostic test kit for detecting COVID-19



Research scientists from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Incas Diagnostics, a diagnostic centre in Kumasi have developed a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit to help in the testing process for COVID-19 in the country.

The project which aims at containing the spread of the virus, inspiring the expansion of domestic capacity and deepening self-reliance has been made very easy to use.

Like a glucose or pregnancy test kit, it only needs a finger-prick drop of blood from the individual and then it detects two different types of antibodies produced by the body to fight off the COVD-19 infection about seven days after infection.

It also identifies antibodies in those who have been exposed to the virus but don’t show symptoms or have recovered. A statement signed by the PRO of KNUST, Daniel Norris Bekoe, said the kit takes about 15-20 minutes to perform and would enable those tested to know their results in a shorter time to enable decision making in real-time by health authorities.

The test is however yet to be fully operational as it is yet to be approved by the FDA and distributed for use.



Local production of PPEs



After an announcement by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on April 5, in his televised address to the nation, Ghana has begun the local production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).

The production of these PPEs commenced by April 11 and was confirmed when the Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, paid a working visit to some four Ghanaian garment manufacturing companies in Accra.

As of the time of the visit, some four out of the selected companies; Dignity DTRT, Sleek Garments, Cadling Fashions, and Alfie Designs Limited, had begun production of personal protective kits for the frontline health workers leading the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

They are to produce among other things, face masks, medical scrubs, hospital gowns and headgears using fabrics from ATL, Volta Star Textiles and GTP. The selected companies, according to government, are to produce a total of 3.6 million masks which will be distributed across the country.

KNUST researchers develop ventilator to support coronavirus treatment

An intervention that will significantly provide some relief as far as healthcare delivery in these disturbing times is concerned, has been designed by some researchers at the College of Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

The automated ventilator meant to help patients with breathing deficiencies and disorders is expected to see full operationalisation soon.

Authorities at the university say the prototype of the ventilator is the result of a collaborative project which began in early 2017, between the Computer Engineering Department of KNUST and the Michigan Technological University of the United States.

Michigan Technological University developed a prototype ventilator which they named IBV Ventilator, and later in 2017, KNUST project students from the Biomedical Engineering Department succeeded in coming out with another prototype; the KNUST Ventilator.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) have begun inspection of the project, with suggestions to make it better.