PANAJI
Goa is all set to receive its own genome sequencing machine under the Reaching Impact, Saturation and Epidemic Control (RISE) project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Health Minister announced on Thursday.
The high-end machinery will be operationalized by February 2022.
The Health Minister was speaking at the launch of the USAID RISE project in Goa at Panaji.
“The agency has assured us a genome sequencing machine for free which will be operationalized by mid-February. We will also be provided support in terms of kits and other requirements including training of doctors for a period of one year. The state government has already signed an agreement with this agency for two years ensuring overall cooperation in the health sector. Our government will receive inputs on oxygen management, critical care for paediatric and adult patients and other things,” the health minister stated while addressing the gathering at the launch.
Presently, Goa sends its Covid samples to the National Centre for Cell Science, Pune for genome sequencing in its efforts to control the spread of Covid variants. The wait for results tends to vary between one to three weeks.
Through this collaboration with the USAID RISE project, the Goa government seeks to establish a responsive respiratory emergency critical care and medical management system, create a learning network of facilities, operationalizing adult and paediatric ICUs, a strong oxygen eco-system, bolstered diagnostics infrastructure including testing for COVID-19, RT-PCR labs and Whole Genome Sequencing, skill enhancement as well as bio-medical waste management.
The programme will be implemented through John Hopkins Programme for International Education on Gynaecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO), a non-profit organization affiliated with the eponymous university.
The event was attended by Health Director Dr Ira Almeida, representatives from USAID India Mission, Deputy Director Health Office Dr Amit Shah, Program Director and Chief of Party of USAID RISE India Dr Vineet Srivastava and regional team lead Dr Parvez Memon.
RISE India is providing technical assistance to secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in 28 states including Goa, by driving health system preparedness for current and future respiratory emergencies including Covid-19.
