MOLBIO DIAGNOSTICS OF INDIA DEPLOYS 333 TRUENAT DEVICES ACROSS NIGERIA TO ENHANCE DIAGNOSIS, BOOST TB, RESPONSE 13-12-24
By Sadiq Aminu Molbio Diagnostics of India has deployed 333 Truenat devices across Nigeria to enhance diagnosis, boost the Tuberculosis, TB, response and to improve public health outcomes through timely and accurate diagnostics
At a media briefing in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of Molbio Diagnostics, Mr. Sriram Natarajan said the firm, in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Programme, NTBLCP, currently conducted a country-wide end users training and installation of the platform to ensure a smooth service delivery.
According to Mr. Natarajan, the deployment of the devices, was a significant step by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, with support from the Global Fund, in leveraging cutting-edge technology to scale up testing and combat TB and other infectious diseases in regions with limited access to advanced medical facilities.
“This intervention is much needed for Nigeria, which collectively accounts for 75% of the global missing TB cases and 70% of missing drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) cases. One key reason for the country’s low case detection rate has been limited access to rapid molecular testing facilities at the last-mile periphery.”
On her part, the laboratory lead at the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Programme (NTBLCP), Ms. Rita Akpakpan, explained that the device, which was automated and battery-operated, could be used to extract, amplify, and detect specific genomic DNA loci for TB and Rifampicin resistance.
Ms. Akpakpan also observed that the point-of-care diagnostic tool was compact, rugged, dust-tolerant and had minimal biosafety issues which would not require air conditioning as it could be used in relatively high room temperatures.
The World Health Organization, WHO, had in 2020, recommended the use of Truenat MTB-RIF Dx (Molbio Diagnostics, India), a new rapid molecular assay for TB diagnosis and detection of Rifampicin resistance.