The Ministry of Health and Medical Services now have four new GeneXpert testing machines to boost its ability to conduct COVID-19 tests more swiftly.

The machines, which were presented yesterday, were procured through the funding and assistance of the European Union (EU), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

The GeneXpert is a small machine, about the size of a microwave oven, that can fit easily on a small table.

UNICEF Pacific representative Sheldon Yett said each machine could carry out four tests in 45 minutes, ramping up the testing capacity and ability of the ministry.

While receiving the new machines, Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said the ministry was looking at sharing the new machines with their Lautoka and Labasa testing facilities.

“The calibre of testing happening in Lautoka and CWM is something we have been happy with so by doing that hopefully we will be able to share the load out and hopefully have a little bit of rest,” Dr Waqainabete said.

WHO Acting Representative to the Pacific Dr Akeem Ali said: “As we chase the virus down by making sure that we find people that might have been in contact so that we can test them, you would agree that it is critical that we do these tests on time and get the results quickly.”

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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