Rwanda has strengthened its ability to detect Ebola and other infectious diseases after receiving four advanced diagnostic machines capable of delivering test results in less than an hour.
The BioFire Torch systems, valued at $370,000 (more than Rwf540 million), were donated by French diagnostics company bioMérieux through a partnership with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and Rwanda Medical Supply (RMS).
The machines have been deployed at Gihundwe, Rwamagana and Gisenyi hospitals, as well as the National Reference Laboratory at RBC. They are expected to improve testing for suspected cases, particularly in border areas and other locations considered at high risk of disease outbreaks.
The BioFire Torch system can detect Ebola, Marburg and several other infectious diseases. Unlike conventional laboratory tests that can take between four and six hours, the new technology produces results in under an hour, allowing health workers to respond more quickly to suspected cases.
Dr. Isabelle Mukagatare, head of Health Services at RBC, said the new equipment will strengthen Rwanda’s preparedness even though the country has not recorded any Ebola cases.
“These four BioFire machines will help us improve our preparedness for Ebola. The fact that Rwanda has not recorded Ebola cases does not mean we should stop preparing. Anyone showing symptoms must be tested immediately,” she said.
Mukagatare said Rwanda already has diagnostic machines that were used during the country’s response to the Marburg virus outbreak. She said the latest donation expands the country’s testing capacity and reflects the confidence development partners have in Rwanda’s public health system.
In addition to delivering faster results, the BioFire Torch system simplifies laboratory testing by reducing the number of procedures required to process samples. Some test results, however, may still require confirmation using other laboratory methods.
RMS Deputy Director General Diana Mutoni said the donation demonstrates the importance of partnerships between the government and the private sector in strengthening healthcare services.
Marc Haribou, Vice President for Africa at bioMérieux, said the company is working with health authorities across Africa to expand access to rapid diagnostic technologies and improve preparedness for future disease outbreaks.
The latest donation follows an earlier delivery of seven diagnostic machines that were distributed to hospitals across Rwanda to strengthen laboratory services.
