Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a leading waste management company and a subsidiary of Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) has presented a cheque of US$20,000 to Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) to promote research on COVID-19.
This follows a news release that scientists from NMIMR and West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana had successfully analyzed samples from selected cases to gain a comprehensive understanding of the variations of coronavirus present in country.
Ms. Sophia Lissah, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, who led a delegation to make the presentation on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyapong, explained that the donation was to support the advanced laboratory and research facility to fight COVID-19. According to her, Zoomlion was moved by a call from NMIMR to support its work, particularly with regard to sequencing and testing processes of the global pandemic. Ms. Lissah seized the opportunity to commend the two institutions for their efforts in the fight of COVID-19.
Prof. Abraham Kwabena Anang, Director of NMIMR commended the company adding that this kind gesture will complement the effort of government and other donor agencies supporting the operations of the Institute in combating the novel coronavirus. He revealed that the Institute in recent times has tremendously scaled up its capacity in testing samples for COVID-19, conducting between 2,000 – 3,000 tests daily.
According to Prof. Gordon Awandare, Director of WACCBIP, viruses mutate when confronted with challenges in the environment hence research involving sequencing the genome is necessary to ensure that there is enough information about the virus in order to inform policy decisions on preventive and treatment measures to fight the virus.
Others members of the delegation present for the donation were Emma Akyea-Boakye, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, and Adokarley Okpoti-Paulo, Group Finance Director, Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
Click here to access the news release "University of Ghana Scientists Sequence Genomes of Novel Coronavirus"
