Refreshing news, but let’s get the vaccine

 Since the first reported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana, the ingenuity and capability of the Ghanaian have been brought to the fore through major scientific breakthroughs and inventions.

Scientists at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP – College of Basic and Applied Sciences) of the University of Ghana, Legon, made history when they succeeded in sequencing the whole genomes of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The historic feat was achieved after the scientists had obtained data from viral strains in 15 of the confirmed cases in the country at that time.

Before that feat, scientists at those institutions could only sequence bits and pieces of the DNA of pathogens, which meant that they could not get comprehensive data on the genomes of pathogenic organisms.

“The achievement gives us another powerful tool in our kit list because if you are going to battle and you have a lot of weapons to deploy, it helps a lot. The research findings mean that scientists in the country have added a powerful weapon that they can deploy to respond appropriately to COVID-19,” the Director of WACCBIP, Prof. Gordon Awandare, said.

In another development, researchers at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Incas Diagnostics in the Ashanti Region have, in partnership with scientists from the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), developed a rapid test kit for the COVID-19.

Relatedly, a number of institutions have also come up with prototype ventilators that could be used to manage COVID-19 patients.

Beyond that, other individuals have also come up with inventions, such as “Solar Wash” to facilitate handwashing.

Fortunately, the inventions and breakthroughs are being taken through processes and procedures at the Ghana Standards Authority, the Food and Drugs Authority, as well as international agencies, to ensure that the country gets it right.

As we speak, the NMIMR says it will require an initial amount of $3 million to begin the preparation of a vaccine for COVID-19 and conduct other research works.

This is very refreshing news, and although we are not in normal times, it is a time for every Ghanaian to be proud.

The Daily Graphic, however, thinks that we should not take our eyes off the ball but work extra hard to achieve the ultimate of not just dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic but also finding a vaccine for the virus.

It is in this vein that we urge all stakeholders, especially corporate bodies with the financial muscle, to support our research institutions to come up not only with a cure for this COVID-19 health hazard but also position them to conduct more research into other areas.

Our scientists and researchers have proved that with the appropriate support, they can do great things for this country; which also means that the government must review its funding of our research institutions to ensure that they will be challenged to deliver to the glory of the country.

For now, the best news would be finding a vaccine to deal with COVID-19.