Sysmex to Launch JICA Project in the Republic of Ghana: “Collaboration Program for Disseminating Automated Urinalysis Diagnosis Technology”
Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; Chairman and CEO: Hisashi Ietsugu) responded to a call by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for proposals under the second fiscal 2017 Collaboration Program with the Private Sector for Disseminating Japanese Technology for Social and Economic Development of Developing Countries. Sysmex’s proposal “Dissemination of Automated Urinalysis Diagnosis technology in the Republic of Ghana” was selected.
Most of the African countries face shortages of health professionals and facilities. In addition, not only infectious diseases, but also non-communicable diseases* (NCDs) are likely to increase, particularly in urban areas. This situation is resulting in a reduced patient quality of life and increased healthcare expenditures.
Prevention, early detection and early treatment are important to counter NCDs. However, urinalysis testing which is an effective and simple screening method has not been disseminated sufficiently. Furthermore, the urinalysis testing performed manually may lead to unstable and varied test results. These situations call for the further dissemination of urinalysis testing, as well as improvement in testing capacity and quality through automation.
Sysmex has built up a sales network comprising local subsidiaries and distributors in 53 countries in Africa, providing hematology, hemostasis and urinalysis fields. In 2015, we established Sysmex West and Central Africa Ltd. (SWCA) (location: Accra, Ghana) to oversee operations in West and Central Africa. The company provides distributor support and training in 19 countries in the region, enhancing Sysmex’s presence in West and Central Africa. In 2017, we began offering direct sales and service and are accelerating our business development within Ghana.
Sysmex will implement this JICA’s project in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (location: Kumasi, Ghana). We will introduce a fully automated urinalysis testing system, the integration of Urine Chemistry Analyzer UC-3500, Urine Particle Analyzer UF-4000 and Urine Particle Digital Imaging Device UD-10. At the same time, Sysmex aims to promote the clinical value and benefit of automated urine analyzer in addressing NCDs through training programs to local health professionals.
For this project, our subsidiary in Ghana, SWCA will install a fully automated urinalysis testing system at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital that Sysmex has developed and manufactured. In addition, SWCA will provide after-sales support and training programs for local health professionals on clinical value and test quality management derived from automated urinalysis testing system.
Through this project, Sysmex aims to contribute to the prevention, early detection and early treatment of NCDs in Ghana. At the same time, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital as a business steppingstone, we aim to enhance the testing quality throughout Ghana and expand to other African countries.
Going forward, Sysmex will continue to instill confidence in customers in developing countries and globally by making a contribution to the standardization and improvement in quality of healthcare.
JICA’s Collaboration Program with the Private Sector for Disseminating Japanese Technology for Social and Economic Development of Developing Countries
This program is designed to foster an understanding among government officials in developing countries about Japanese companies’ products, technologies, expertise and systems to contribute to social and economic development in those countries by supporting technological guidance and local seminars, as well as through demonstrations of their equipment. This program began as a public-offering program in fiscal 2013; the current project is the ninth.
Project amount: Up to 20 million Japanese Yen
Details: https://www.jica.go.jp/activities/schemes/priv_partner/kaihatsu/index.html
(Japanese only)
Terminology
*Non-communicable diseases: The main types are cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory and renal diseases. These diseases are driven by factors such as an unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity, smoking, and an excessive consumption of alcohol. NCDs can be prevented through reducing the risk factors by improving to healthy lifestyle.
*Information contained in the press release is current as of the date of the announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.