UPPER EAST COVID-19 TESTING CENTRE READY JULY 24, 2020


The Navrongo Health Research Centre [NHRC] located in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region, is set to commence testing of samples for the novel coronavirus.
 
Dr. Winfred Ofosu - Upper East RDHS
Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Winfred Ofosu disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Bolgatanga this Thursday. 

“We have come a long way. Though we had the various equipment, one of the things that delayed us was the installation kits which the health research centre had to order from outside. The good news is that everything has been installed now,” he stated.

It will be recalled that, the Regional Director first dropped the hint about the establishment of the Navrongo COVID-19 testing centre at the Residency on 5th April, 2020 during a media briefing on the very first recorded COVID-19 case in the region.

Samples of suspected COVID-19 patients have always been transported to Tamale, a two-hour drive from Upper East or alternatively, to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, a journey of about 11 hours, for testing. This situation, the health authorities noted affects turnaround time of results thereby affecting patients’ management due to the long delay.

The region has had to grapple with long waiting time-frames for the return of results over the period, a situation which always received mention in periodic situational reports of the COVID-19 management team in the region as a major setback to the fight against the virus in the region.

Dr. Ofosu disclosed that all is now set for the NHRC to begin running tests for any suspected coronavirus cases in scheduled to start in the next two weeks. He assured, “everything is in order. What is left is for us to have the Head of testing laboratory to come and look through to certify that everything as setup is okay then we will receive our reagents and then start testing”.
The Navrongo COVID-19 testing centre  it must be noted, is furnished to international standards and will significantly improve case management as well as, drastically improve turnaround time with results expected to be received within 24 to 48 hours.

The centre will also serve the North East region and parts of the Upper West region.
Source: dreamzfmonline.com/atogewe.blogspot.com

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