Senegal has reportedly developed one of the world's most
affordable Coronavirus testing kits, which costs $1 each and $60 3D printed
ventilators.
A laboratory in Senegal used its AIDS and Ebola experience
to develop a $1 COVID-19 testing kit and ventilators that cost just $60.
Despite the country's low budget for health, the West
African nation has recorded the highest recovery rate in Africa so far and the
3rd highest recovery rate in the world. 283 of its 671 Coronavirus patients
have recovered and 9 have died.
The high recovery rate is due to Senegal's affordable
Coronavirus test kits which makes it possible to test and treat more people as
compared to other countries.
Unlike most countries that wait till patients start
exhibiting symptoms before tests are carried out due to shortage of test kits,
Senegal is testing everyone who indicates interest, symptoms or not, and this
has helped them identify those affected early to allow them begin treatment
before the illness progresses.
Also, with a scarcity of ventilators in the country,
Senegal's engineers are using a 3D printing machine to produce more
ventilators. Imported ventilators cost $16,000 but the one manufactured by
Senegal engineers cost only $60.
Senegal has managed to keep the spread of Coronavirus down
to one of the world's lowest rates and have developed a cheap, effective test
that can be mass produced and globally distributed.
