A report on preparation, expansion and future outlook of COVID-19 testing in Gambia

Authors

  • Ousman Secka Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, Atlantic Road, Fajara
  • Eniyou C. Oriero Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, Atlantic Road, Fajara https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7911-6457
  • Sheikh Jarju Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, Atlantic Road, Fajara https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2621-8406
  • Aminata Vilane Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, Atlantic Road, Fajara
  • Natalie Hofmann Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, Atlantic Road, Fajara
  • Mamadou Ousmane Ndiath Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, Atlantic Road, Fajara
  • Davis Nwakanma https://orcid.org/

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2022.1616

Keywords:

COVID-19 testing, sub-Saharan Africa, Pandemic, SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 disease and rapid spread of the virus outside China led to its declaration as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in January 2020. Key elements of the early intervention strategy focused on laboratory diagnosis and screening at points of entry and imposition of restrictions in crossborder activities.
Objective: We report the role the Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia (MRCG) played in the early implementation of molecular testing for COVID-19 in The Gambia as part of the national outbreak response.
Methods: Laboratory staff members, with experience in molecular biology assays, were identified and trained on COVID-19 testing at the Africa CDC training workshop in Dakar, Senegal. Thereafter risks assessments, drafting of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and inhouse training enabled commencement of testing using commercial RTPCR kits. Subsequently, testing was expanded to the National Public Health Laboratroy and also implemented across field sites for rapid response across the country.
Results: Capacity for COVID-19 testing at MRCG was developed and can process aproximately 350 tests per day, which can be further scaled up as the demand for testing increases.
Conclusion: The long presence of the Unit in The Gambia and strong collaborative relationship with the National Health Ministry, allowed for a synergistc approach in mounting an effective response that contributed in delaying the establishment of community transmission in the country.

Download data is not yet available.

References

Coronavirus (COVID-19) events as they happen [Internet]. [cited 2020 May 18]. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen

WHO | Pneumonia of unknown cause – China [Internet]. WHO. World Health Organization; [cited 2020 May 18]. Available from: http://www.who.int/csr/don/05-january-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/

2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019‑nCoV): STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN [Internet]. [cited 2020 May 18]. Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/srp-04022020.pdf

Hopman J, Allegranzi B, Mehtar S. Managing COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. JAMA. 2020 Apr 28;323(16):1549–50.

Udugama B, Kadhiresan P, Kozlowski HN, Malekjahani A, Osborne M, Li VYC, et al. Diagnosing COVID-19: The Disease and Tools for Detection. ACS Nano [Internet]. 2020 Mar 30 [cited 2020 May 23]; Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7144809/

38194-doc-africacdc_covidbrief_03mar20_en.pdf [Internet]. [cited 2020 May 18]. Available from: https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/38194-doc-africacdc_covidbrief_03mar20_en.pdf

Jarju S, Greenhalgh K, Wathuo M, Banda M, Camara B, Mendy S, et al. Viral Etiology, Clinical Features and Antibiotic Use in Children <5 Years of Age in the Gambia Presenting With Influenza-like Illness. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2020 May 20;

guidance-and-sop-covid-19-virus-testing-in-nhs-laboratories-v1.pdf [Internet]. [cited 2020 May 18]. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/guidance-and-sop-covid-19-virus-testing-in-nhs-laboratories-v1.pdf

WHO. WHO | Personal protective equipment for COVID-19 [Internet]. WHO. World Health Organization; [cited 2020 Jun 2]. Available from: http://www.who.int/medical_devices/priority/COVID_19_PPE/en/

whoemc973.pdf [Internet]. [cited 2020 Aug 1]. Available from: https://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/whoemc973.pdf?ua=1

Quick J. nCoV-2019 sequencing protocol V.1 [Internet]. Protocols.io. 2020 [cited 2022 May 16]. Available from: https://www.protocols.io/view/ncov-2019-sequencing-protocol-bp2l6n26rgqe/v1?version_warning=no&step=7

Final_Sitrep-21st-22nd-March-2020.pdf [Internet]. [cited 2020 Aug 1]. Available from: http://www.moh.gov.gm/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Final_Sitrep-21st-22nd-March-2020.pdf

Gambia_The_COVID-19_Sitrep-27-August-2020.pdf [Internet]. [cited 2020 Aug 30]. Available from: http://www.moh.gov.gm/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Gambia_The_COVID-19_Sitrep-27-August-2020.pdf

Downloads

Published

12-09-2022

How to Cite

Secka, O., Oriero, E. C., Jarju, S., Vilane, A., Hofmann, N., Ndiath, M. O., & Nwakanma, D. (2022). A report on preparation, expansion and future outlook of COVID-19 testing in Gambia. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2022.1616

Issue

Section

Original Articles

Similar Articles

1 2 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.