Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited has donated a Molecular Workstation (portable PCR) testing equipment and N95 nose masks to University of Ghana’s Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) in support of the fight against Covid-19.

Mrs. Mansa Nettey, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited, who presented the Molecular Workstation on behalf of the bank said: "testing is very important in the fight against the pandemic and we believe that it is appropriate to support Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research with the right equipment to expand and enhance its testing capabilities".

She added that the N95 nose masks would also protect the health workers as they go about conducting tracing and testing.

Mrs Nettey revealed that the bank has committed Gh¢1million to support efforts in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana.

Receiving the donation, Prof. Abraham Kwabena Anang, Director of the Institute, expressed sincere appreciation adding that, this will go a long way to augment the capacity of the Institute to test samples for Covid-19 which is the primary step in combating the pandemic.

According to the Director, Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited has become a key strategic partner of the Institute and will continue to collaborate with them. 

The PCR machine would enable samples collected to be tested on the field without having to transport them to the laboratory.

This will significantly reduce the waiting time for results in order to improve the management of confirmed cases in the country.

Friends of Noguchi at the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA)

In a related development, Friends of Noguchi at the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) have donated a tricycle to help in the waste management operations of the Institute. 

Mr. Ernest Appiah, Human Resource Manager and Mr. John Boakye, Chief Finance Officer who presented the the tricycle said this was their modest way of joining the fight against the novel corona virus.