BY LORRAINE MUROMO/TAPFUMANEI MUCHABAIWA AFRICA Health Conference producer Cynthia Makarutse says laboratory medicine might be the remedy to healthcare systems on the African continent which struggled to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in its initial stages.
In a statement yesterday, Makarutse said historically, laboratory medicine had been poorly understood, undervalued and often overlooked.
She said since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, there had, however, been a greater appreciation of laboratory medicine and a surge in investments into laboratory medicines.
“This greater emphasis followed the recognition that the new coronavirus was airborne and could be spread by asymptomatic (or pre-symptomatic) carriers, and that diagnostic (or laboratory) testing was the only sure-fire means of accurately detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 molecules,” Makarutse said.
She believes that Africa’s laboratory medicine infrastructure proved vital to stalling the pandemic’s spread into the continent.
“The institution of laboratory medicine and all of its subfields which include patient monitoring, epidemiological surveillance, clinical biochemistry, aetiological diagnosis, haematology, and others received renewed appreciation during the pandemic, not only within the medical industry but from the general public as well.
“Clinicians, pathologists, and lab workers across the continent deserve commendations for their tremendous efforts in leveraging the advantage of the virus’s late arrival compared to most regions,” she said, further indicating that the Southern Africa Development Community’s clinical laboratory industry is estimated to be the fastest growing in the region amid a surge of exciting innovation driven by the pandemic.
“Africa’s laboratory medicine sector continues to be revitalised with laboratory medicine professionals using cutting-edge technologies and techniques to improve patient care, and healthcare quality standards, and work towards universal health coverage goals on the continent thereby improving the continent’s healthcare systems, and contributing to global pandemic preparedness,” she added.
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Meanwhile, some health sector analysts have urged citizens to continue observing World Health Organisation guidelines on COVID-19.
Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director Itai Rusike said the country should remain vigilant despite the drop in infections.
“As COVID-19 cases are rising once again in several regions, it is important for people to continue observing WHO guidelines and protocols such as mandatory wearing of face masks in public places,” Rusike said.
Other countries in the region such as Namibia and South Africa have since abandoned wearing of face masks due to declining COVID-19 cases.
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