Nigerian scientist inaugurates kit for malaria analysis
Agbo, who won the 2015 Health Innovation Challenge Award for designing the Urine Malaria Test kit, said the technology would reduce misdiagnosis and give a true picture of the burden of malaria in the country.Noting that not all fevers and their symptoms were due to malaria infection, the medic explained that the new technology would enable patients to go for tests before receiving treatment for the disease.
Agbo, who said this during the product launch of the technology in Lagos, noted that the kit could easily confirm whether there was need to treat malaria fever or not.
He said, “We need to raise the standard of health care in Nigeria, especially in the of diagnosis of diseases by using fast, efficient and latest technologies. With UMT, health care providers and individuals can rule out if the malaria parasite is present in the body without using blood, reagents and equipment.
“This urine test is especially relevant for Nigerians living in hard-to-reach areas where there are no laboratories, personnel and facilities to treat malaria. It does not require blood, use of reagents or expertise. Anyone can use it.”
According to Agbo, the kit has gone through the required clinical trial that certified its efficacy.
The Principal Investigator and Director, ANDI Centre of Excellence for Malaria Diagnosis, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Wellington Oyibo, noted that the UMT technology could reduce drug resistance, which has been frustrating malaria treatment in the country.
Wellington said, “When you treat malaria without testing, you neglect the actual cause of the fever which may be dangerous and early diagnosis is important in the management of any medical condition.”
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