By Michael Gwarisa
In a bid to improve detection and treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and other lifestyle diseases in Zimbabwe, CIMAS Medical Aid Society has procured a Genetic Sequencing device that is set to be a game changer in Zimbabwe’s public health system.
The Gene Sequencer is a fairly new technology in Zimbabwe, with CIMAS’s laboratory division MEDLABS, being one of the few organisations in possession of the technology in the country. The technology screens for underlying health issues and disease susceptibility in different populations.
Speaking in an interview with HealthTimes on the side-lines of a media tour of the CIMAS laboratory to mark Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, CIMAS Group Medical Advisor, Dr Tsitsi Moyo said the technology would go a long in addressing issues of late diagnosis associated with majority of NCDs in Zimbabwe.
“What the sequencer does is to look at the genetic makeup of the people that we are having and it helps us during screening for diseases,” said Dr Moyo.
“It also helps us identify who from our populations is prone to cancer for cancer for example, what kind of treatment can we use and then we can proactively plan from a public health perspective and even from funding perspective. We can pro-actively plan and say this is what we can expect in our population in the next five, 10 or whatever number of years into the future.”
She added that the gene technology will also assist in the personalisation of treatment for patients and ensure they are put on the right treatment for specific types of illnesses.
“With this of the gene sequencing addition, research will be a major thrust of Cimas MEDLABS for the future in ensuring that the African genome is included in all aspects of health care, from diagnostics to pharmaceuticals and every aspect of science.”
The gene sequencer is equipped with the latest advancements in sequencing technology and offers unparalleled speed, accuracy, and efficiency in decoding genetic information.
“Cimas MEDLABS is immensely proud to be at the forefront of genetic research and personalised medicine. We remain committed to advancing medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes through ground-breaking research and technology,” added Dr Moyo.
For developing countries, such as Zimbabwe, a key challenge associated with the cancer disease burden is late diagnosis, which is associated with poorer outcomes. About 80% of cancers in Africa are diagnosed when they have become incurable because of late presentation at health facilities.
Meanwhile, CIMAS laboratories have since earned international recognition following its ISO 18189 accreditation. They are also the first laboratory to receive such an accreditation in Zimbabwe.
“We have been working with ISO 18189 accreditation. This puts us on the global map and it helps us so that if we have that accreditation, the result that you get from CIMAS MELABS today, you can take it to any doctor anywhere in the world and thy will know that this is a quality result and they can use that to treat the patient.”
