RED ALERT: Noguchi Warns of Shutdown over Expired Equipment

While Ghana battles the raging Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, the main research institute at the centre of testing and research has issued a warning that it may be forced to shut down one of its facilities for lack of resources.

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research says it is likely to soon shut down its advanced research laboratory as some of its equipment near expiry, even though it is the main nerve-centre sample testing of suspected coronavirus patients.

Director of Noguchi Prof. Abraham Annan says there is a need for steps to replace some vital equipment likely to go out of service next year.

“…these things run into hundreds and thousands of dollars, so we need resources, if we are not able to match up then we may have to close down the place,” Prof. Annan was quoted as saying.

“Honestly the centre is in good standing but we also need resources. For example, you see our advance laboratory research is there and it was opened last year by next year there are so many things we have to replace there, some of them are highly advanced filter systems they are designed to contain any pathogens”.

The implication of a shutdown of a section of Noguchi is difficult to ascertain, but it is one of only two research centres conducting all the testing and research into suspected Covid-19 patients. The other research centre is the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in the Ashanti Region.