Ghana introduces rapid diagnostic test for management of infectious diseases

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Ghana has introduced a rapid diagnostic test for efficient treatment and management of infectious diseases.

The point-of-care diagnostics is meant to identify the germs in infections to inform the appropriate treatment.

Head of Department of Pharmacy practice at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Kwame Buabeng says the technology will also help to identify antimicrobial resistance patterns in the country.

"Once the organism is identified and we know the resistance pattern then we can move on to prescribe the appropriate antibiotics for the particular organism," he said.

Reports suggest about 700,000 people die annually as a result of Antimicrobial Resistance.

Scientists predict a rise in the number to 10 million by 2050 if proper measures are not put in place to curb drug misuse.

Ghana has been counting on labs for culture and sensitivity tests at the districts.

This technology which has been piloted at Dodowa will soon be rolled out nationwide.

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Antimicrobial Resistance

Rapid Diagnostic Test