Belize Receives Sample Collection Kits and RNA Extraction Kits from CABEI
Belize, as part of the Central American Integration System, received an emergency aid to complement national efforts for the prevention, containment, and treatment of COVID-19. The aid comes courtesy of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, known as CABEI, and in the form of COVID-19 detection test kits, sample collection kits, R.N.A. extraction process kits, equipment, and instruments. CABEI donated two hundred and sixty AccuPrep Viral R.N.A. Extraction Kits equivalent to twenty-six thousand units. The donation also included sixteen thousand sample kits for the extraction and sample required for the early detection of COVID-19. This particular donation is valued at one hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars. The donation comes at an important time as the country, especially frontline workers brace for the reopening of the Philip Goldson International Airport on August fifteen. The donations were received by experts at the Central Medical Lab.
Juvencio Chan, Senior Medical Technologist
Juvencio Chan
“We received viral swabs. That is for collection of the samples from the patients. We also got the extraction kits that are used for PCR testing. This is the viral transport medium. This is the sample collection that we use to collect the sample from the patient. It brings two swabs and the viral transport medium, the fine one is use for the nostrils. The next one is used for the throat. This is only the sample collections kit in other words. We have the extraction kit that we received. This is used to extract the virus, the DNA, RNA of the virus. This is just the initial stage for the testing of the PCR.”
Aldo Sosa
Aldo Sosa, Senior Medical Technologist
“We cannot ever say that we have too much especially these times when it comes to the viral swabs. Worldwide they were kind of running out of these. This increases our capacity by sixteen thousands swabs that we have. That means we can swab sixteen thousand persons, more than what we currently have bringing us to over twenty thousand total. When it comes to tests, this increases our capacity by twenty six thousand samples more. We are very well equipped at the moment.”
Yvonne Hyde, CEO, Ministry of Economic Development
Yvonne Hyde
“This is part a regional initiative which is being implemented by Central American Bank for Economic Integration, CABEI and it is for SICA country members for CABEI which is basically the Central American countries and Belize. CABEI has already contributed in terms of assistance for COVID 19 approximately a million US dollars in other types equipment to do with COVID-19. So it is regional and we are very appreciative. It is all grant funding.”
