This archive report was first published on 28 April 2020.
Published on April 28, 2020, Senegal has taken a significant step in the fight against Covid-19 by developing a rapid testing kit that can be used at home and costs just $1.
The innovative kit, which can produce results in under 10 minutes, is set to be mass-produced in the UK and Senegal once it meets regulation standards.
According to Dr. Amadou Sall, one of the brains behind the innovation, the plan is to make the test available to African countries, with a target of producing 2-4 million kits.
Senegal's innovation is not limited to the testing kit, as the country has also embarked on 3D printing of ventilators that cost $60 compared to imported ones costing $16,000.
The country's experience in dealing with Ebola and AIDS has shown that technological know-how is not limited to the West.
Senegal's efforts have been recognized globally, with the country having the highest number of recovered cases in Africa, with 283 cases.
Other countries, including Kenya, are also working on developing Covid-19 testing kits, with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) starting manufacturing of a 15-minute testing kit.
The innovations are in line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) request to countries to ramp up their capacities and 'test, test, test'.
