By: Justicia Shipena
Senior technical officer for public health policy at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Francis Farai Chikuse, says that there is a need for new variants and the low uptake of vaccine and new Covid-19 waves to strengthen genomic sequencing in Namibia.
Chikuse made these remarks at the donation of genome sequencing machinery to Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) on Wednesday.
“Namibia has to remain part of the sequencing network despite that you now have your sequencing machine,” he said.
Chikuse said Namibia should decentralise sequencing.
“We don’t want sequencing to be concentrated in Windhoek only, but we want it to reach other parts of the country, too,” he said.
He further said sequencing should be looked at beyond Covid-19.
“We must also start to think about the sequencing of other risk cases. We have problems with cholera, malaria and other emerging pathogens. This is where our focus is, and we are also looking to capacitate number states to apply for grants to sustain sequencing.”
Chikuse stated a need to scale up and set up early detection and genomic surveillance of Covid-19 across Africa.
“Genome sequence allowed rapid development of diagnostic tests and other tools for response and pathogen genomics to inform the allocation of medical commodities like diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines.”
However, he said there are still challenges faced in expanding detection and investigation of the pandemic pathogens.
“These challenges include limited sequencing capacity at regional hubs, material transfer agreements, import and export permits, supply chain, lack of standardised data analysis and reporting frameworks,” said Chikuse.
Chikuse said the sequencing equipment could sequence up to 96 samples per run with the new donated machinery to Namibia.
NIP chief executive officer Kapena Tjombonde said that NIP had established collaboration with laboratories in South Africa and the University of Namibia (Unam) for DNA sequencing.
“Though its function has not been an ideal state of affairs and was time-consuming, the donation empowers NIP to conduct the complete DNA sequencing process in-house,” she said.
She stated that NIP will now be able to monitor SARS-COV-2 variants of interest.
“Genomic sequencing will aid in studying prolonged outbreaks, map coronavirus clusters, identify super spreaders and understand behaviours that spread Covid-19,” said Tjombonde.
Tjombonde also said the new technology would drive monitoring changes in pathogens such as TB and influenza and detect mutations.
“We will be able to generate research data that can enhance disease surveillance and assist the country in successfully implementing public health response measures.”
Thus, Tjombonde said they have invested in building local capacity in genomic sequencing by sending two scientists abroad for training.
Health ministry acting executive director Johannes #Gaeseb said that Covid-19 had put an unprecedented burden on Namibia’s healthcare system.
Hence the donation will assist the ministry in decreasing the global pandemic.
“This SARS-CO-2 state of the art genomic surveillance programme allows us to monitor the virus closely as it spreads and mutates,’ he said.
He added that the equipment would screen four mutations, namely, K417T, K147N, E484K and P681R.
“It also is used to screen SARS COV-2 positive samples for the presence of omicron variant with 98% confidence. This includes the recently identified BA-1 and BA-2 sub-lineages,” said #Gaeseb.
When asked about the turnaround of genome sequencing, #Gaeseb said it would help the government better prepare for new threats of variants.
“Once we know what we are fighting, we will be better prepared for coming. So, with genome sequencing, we will be able to tell if it is resistant to what we have or not.”
