Dakar has taken its place as a global trailblazer in the quest to invent a rapid testing kit for Covid-19. The west African nation has developed such a kit will not only take under 10 minutes to do a test but also sell at a cost price of one US Dollar. Researchers have already commenced validation of the diagnostic testing that will allow people to conduct the tests at home. Mass manufacture of the testing kits is set to start immediately in the United Kingdom and Senegal once it meets regulation standards. According to one of the brains behind the innovation, Dr Amadou Sall, the plan is to ensure this test benefits the whole of Africa. “There is no need for a highly-equipped lab. It is a simple test that can be done anywhere. The idea is to produce 2 to 4 million kits, not just for us but for African countries,” said Dr Amadou. The small West African country that is a third the size of Kenya has also embarked on 3D printing of ventilators that cost about $ 60 compared to imported ones costing $16,000 ventilator costs.
SOURCE: STANDARD MEDIA