Sysmex Certified “JICA-SDGs Partner” through its Project for Dissemination of Automated Urinalysis Diagnosis Technology in the Republic of Ghana

In a number of developing nations, besides shortages of health professionals and facilities, an increasing number of patients have been suffering in recent years from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, and renal diseases, as well as from infectious diseases. Due to a lack of adequate measures in place to control NCDs – in respect of which prevention, early detection, and early treatment are important – there are concerns over reduced quality of life in patients and economic burdens from increased healthcare expenditures.
Against this background, Sysmex has focused on urinalysis, which can be used to screen for NCDs with minimal burden on patients, and has been working to increase use of urinalysis testing through automation of the urinalysis process. In 2018, the company’s proposal on “Dissemination of Automated Urinalysis Diagnosis Technology in the Republic of Ghana” was selected as a project under JICA’s Collaboration Program with the Private Sector for Disseminating Japanese Technology for Social and Economic Development of Developing Countries (current program name: “SDGs Business Supporting Surveys”). Since then, it has carried forward activities based on partnerships with JICA and the local Health Ministry and hospitals. It is in recognition of these activities as a commitment to attainment of SDGs that JICA has designated Sysmex a “JICA-SDGs Partner.”

Going forward, Sysmex will continue to instill confidence in customers, both in developing countries and globally, by contributing to attainment of SDGs as well through addressing challenges in healthcare by way of the company’s products and services.

Through this project, a fully automated urinalysis testing system has been introduced to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana. The project is also aimed at increasing understanding of the clinical value and benefits of automated urine analyzers among local physicians and clinical laboratory technologists. It is intended to improve the hospital’s testing capacity and accuracy of testing by automating testing processes to solve such problems as inconsistency in test results occurring in manual culture and microscopy (analysis of samples using a microscope) and operational problems such as errors in handwritten records of test results.

The project also provides education on the clinical value of automated urinalysis through scientific symposiums and training sessions, and carries out educational activities so that clinical laboratory technologists will be able to provide more accurate information of greater clinical significance to doctors. Building on the achievements at this hospital, Sysmex is further working to extend the technology to other teaching hospitals in Ghana and to hospitals in rural areas of the country.

[Reference]
   Sysmex to Launch JICA Project in the Republic of Ghana:
　"Collaboration Program for Disseminating Automated Urinalysis Diagnosis Technology”
   https://www.sysmex.co.jp/en/news/2018/180426.html