Public health lab gets vital equipment |18 March 2014

The Public health laboratory of the Seychelles Hospital has received a batch of new equipment which will enhance the detection of a virus that causes severe diarrhoea.

World Health Organisation (WHO) liaison officer Dr Cornelia Atsyor presented the equipment to Public Health Commissioner, Dr Jude Gedeon, in a short ceremony yesterday morning in the presence of health minister Mitcy Larue, health principal secretary Peggy Vidot, Health Care Agency chief executive Suresh Menon, central management team members and staff of the public laboratory.

The equipment donated by the WHO cost around US $15,000 and comprise a microbiological safety cabinet, data logger digital thermometer, microscope and an Elisa reader.

“I am happy to be here to hand the equipment to the Ministry of Health on behalf of the WHO. The equipment is meant for the detection of rotavirus,” Dr Atsyor said as she handed it over to Dr Gedeon.

“I hope this equipment can be used in a survey so that evidence can be gathered about the rotavirus in Seychelles. By developing this evidence we will build a case for the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine here in Seychelles,” Dr Atsyor explained.

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhoea in infants and young children worldwide. The rotavirus disease causes severe watery diarrhoea, often with vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. Globally, it causes more than half a million deaths each year in children younger than five years of age.

“I am very pleased to accept this very generous donation on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The equipment is an add-on to the investment that the government made last year to refurbish the public health Lab. It will also add on to the safety of the staff when they are handling contagious samples,” Dr Gedeon said.

During the hand-over ceremony, a lab technologist, Rose May Benoit, gave a small demonstration of how to use the microbiological safety cabinet.