Eddy Agbo’s Breakthrough That Will Save Millions Of Lives

Eddy Agbo’s Breakthrough That Will Save Millions Of Lives

A US based biotechnology firm, Fyodor, founded by a Nigerian Eddy Agbo, has led to the discovery of the Urine Mmalaria Test (UMT) kit which provides a point-of-need diagnosis of the Plasmodium parasite using dipstick technology, just the same way pregnancy test strips work. The urine malaria test is already in some pharmacies in Nigeria. This test can be done within 25minutes prior to initiation of therapy and does not require special skills in order to perform it.

A publication in a malaria journal upheld the sensitivity of the tests strip and the reliability of the technique, but calling for more improvements.

The benefit offered by this rapid test kit is that accurate malaria treatment can now be initiated on time especially in rural areas and ultimately reduce deaths due to malaria.

Back here in Nigeria, this great innovation won the inaugural 2015 Health Innovation Challenge Awards backed by the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN). The award comes with a grant of $100,000 and support for PHN from backers including Bill Gates; Africa’s wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote; and former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan.

Meanwhile, for centuries, several diseases, including malaria, have been of great concern among the highly populated continent of Africa, nay Nigeria.

According to UNICEF, every year, Malaria affects about 300 million to 600 million people around the world and about 580,000 annual deaths due to malaria have been recorded. 90% of this figure is attributed to Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria accounts for 18% of global infections.

Malaria treatment in Nigeria seems to be poorly executed and this has over the years frustrated the eradication of the disease as well as led to the difficulty in proper management of the disease. The gold standard diagnostic test for malaria has been through blood smears. This has not enjoyed widespread acceptance and practice among community based health facilities. However, the efforts of Eddy Agbo in the development of the Urine Mmalaria Test (UMT) kit will gradually bring this to an end and aid in the fast diagnosis and treatment of malaria around the world.

Sources: Quartz Africa, http://www.malariajournal.com/content/13/1/403