The Ministry of Health has received huge medical consignment from the government and people of the United States of America, through USAID Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance to boost Liberia’s COVID-19 testing at the Standard Testing Lab.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the government of Liberia on Thursday, March 11, 2021, Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah said standing together side-by-side in time of pandemic is the best remedy in tackling any global pandemic.
“On behalf of the President, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah, our NPHIL boss Jane Macaulay and our entire Lab pillar, we want to say a big thank you; because maybe a lot of Liberians don’t know here in Liberia we have robots that can collect and analyze the simple before it goes into the testing machine,” Dr. Jallah disclosed.
In order to carryout rapid testing, according to her, the US government provided robots to the Liberian government, which is being used for testing in the country, saying “if you didn’t know that we have robots in Liberia, we have them here—so it is for the public knowledge.
These robots can do the work faster than human; hence, their testing is more accurate than human”.
Dr. Jallah, who expressed delight over the consignment, said the donation came at the time when the Ministry was running short of such materials; thereby, lauding the US Embassy for its timely intervention.
Earlier, while handing the consignment over to the Ministry, US
Ambassador to Liberia, Michael A. McCarthy, said he was honored to represent the people of the United States of America who are willingness to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Dr. Jallah, as she works so hard to provide service delivery in the health sector across the country.
“And as she struggles to battle this pandemic, we are very delighted and humble to be standing within her struggle, and we are delighted to step in with these testing equipment—and the beauty of these things is that it is more accurate.” Amb. McCarthy averred.
For her part, Ellen Munemo, USAID Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance Team Lead, said the consignment presented will be used in the laboratory for extracting out virus from affected persons.
“So what we just handed over is an automated extracted kids that can be used in the Lab of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) to extract the RNA material—a virus particle—which will then detect a fluid that a person is COVID-19 or not”, Munemo disclosed.
The monetary value of the consignment is put at one hundred-twenty thousand United States dollars (US$120,000.00).
Signed: _________________________________
Felecia Gbesioh
Director of Communication, MOH