Manufacture of Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits

The project aims to improve accessibility to diagnostic outcomes across Africa and introduce new technologies through local manufacturing. Collaboratively, this will help reduce the overall disease burden on Africa and lead to the overall strengthening of our healthcare system. Currently, for every one test conducted in a low income country, more than 100 are conducted in high-income countries, due to accessibility and affordability. This inequity in testing creates a dangerous situation. Africa has the highest burden of some of the major diseases, for example, Africa has a malaria burden of 94%, yet less than 1 in 3 children under the age of 5 are tested for malaria; 16% of the population do not have access to HIV testing; and less than 1 in 10 are tested for Hepatitis. Testing remains the cornerstone to any disease response, and yet there exists no local manufacturers to improve accessibility to this. Therefore, after understanding the burden on testing across Africa for just 3 life threatening diseases and the requirement for locally manufactured Rapid Diagnostic Test kits for the African continent, it was vital to ensure we introduce effective outcomes to solve the crisis of accessibility, affordability and quality for the African continent. Further, technologies developed across the globe are needed in Africa for the African population to ensure improved healthcare outcomes. However, this only addresses a minor percentage of the African population. Therefore, with a local manufacturer such as Revital Healthcare (EPZ) Ltd developing home-grown solutions for various rapid tests which address the continents needs, these new technologies will not only create new opportunities for locals but also prosper a new generation of talent within the field of STEM who will draw inspiration to create new technologies to address major diseases affecting Africa as we shall have the infrastructure for greater research and development.

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