The University of Lagos said it invented a new
method of diagnosing malaria, following intensive research by its Department of
Medical Micro Biology and Parasitology.
Prof. Wellington Oyibo, the Director, Research
and Innovation of the institution, on Thursday in Lagos said the university’s
research on malaria testing without the use of blood was validated in 2016.
The Prof said that by this feat, the institution
was fast becoming a clinical trial site for diagnosis in the country.
According to Prof Oyibo, the institution has provided a platform and an
enabling environment for researchers that have been providing solutions to life
challenges.
The Professor of Medical Parasitology noted that
having worked in the malaria space, he discovered that malaria was a major
health challenge in the country.
He added that “one of the major challenges in
managing the menace has to do with case management, as there are assumptions
that all fevers are malaria.
“This
leads to excessive diagnosis and over treatment.”
He recalled that the policy that malaria test
should be done before treatment was approved since 2010, noting, however, that
“in spite of this policy,” people are still not doing tests.
“So, one way by which we can encourage diagnosis
is by introducing tests that will
not require blood from patients.
“Under the new test formula, medicine retailers
will be able to carry out diagnosis before dispensing drugs.
“If we keep selling drugs for a disease that does
not exist, it will amount to waste of resources and patients will be
suffering.’’
The lecturer said that the research was conducted
in collaboration with a group of researchers in Baltimore, U.S., adding that
the outcome was to diagnose malaria using urine.
He explained that “the first urine malaria test’’
has been validated.
According to him, the urine malaria test is the
first clinical and global trial to be done in the world.
He said the test had been registered by both the
National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control and the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration.
He noted that the development was remarkable and
groundbreaking, considering the fact that one could carry out malaria test
without taking blood.
He appealed to the Federal Government to create
easy access for people to test for malaria through the new approach.
This, he said, is possible by establishing
testing centres in various parts of the country.
“This achievement shows that UNILAG is becoming a
clinical trial site for diagnosis.
“In the past, trial test are conducted in India and
Bangladesh or somewhere in Asia for Nigerians.
“But now, we are conducting tests for Nigerian
patients and we are providing data and that is quite remarkable.’’
Prof Oyibo further said that the new research
breakthrough would improve malaria diagnosis and treatment.
News Agency of Nigeria - NAN
Labels: Campus News
