FPCC partners with NIMR to launch SIMA Covid-19 test kit
FATE Philanthropy Coalition for COVID-19 (FPCC) Support Fund, a Philanthropy unit of FATE Foundation in partnership with Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has announced the launch of the first SARS-COV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay (SIMA).
The SARS-COV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay is a Point-of-care molecular test kit that can detect COVID-19 in real-time in less than 40 minutes, compared to at least 2 hours that it takes the current testing protocols. SIMA is the first of its kind and was fully funded by the FATE Philanthropy Coalition for COVID-19 Support Fund (PFCC).
This test kit has been designed and developed by the Nigerian Institute of Medical
Research (NIMR) to ease the challenges posed by the current method of testing which requires very heavy laboratory and expensive equipment to function. An added advantage of SIMA kit is that low-skilled personnel can be trained to perform this assay in tertiary health facilities where it can be used to diagnose COVID-19 in hospitalised patients. This will be particularly advantageous in remote areas with disadvantaged populations.
Speaking about the Launch, Coordinator of the FPPC Support Fund, Fola Adeola, said that “pioneering this research work led by some of our nation’s leading public health researchers at NIMR exemplifies the potentials of health innovation in Nigeria when effectively supported and enabled.
“We are proud to have provided the grant which helped NIMR to design and develop the SIMA and we are excited about the possibilities of this innovation in containing the COVID-19 spread and identifying people infected.”
He also noted that the FPCC Support Fund was set up in March 23, 2020 to support ongoing national and community efforts to ameliorate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigeria by keying into local and national government’s efforts to properly equip public health facilities and front-line personnel.
“Till date, the investment funds have supported other public health institutions including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the National Ortheopeadic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos,” he added.