The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research has taken delivery of some equipment that will enhance the testing and storage of coronavirus data.

The equipment, worth GHC42000 were presented to the institute by mobile telecommunication giants MTN through their foundation.

The items include five HP laptops with accessories, two printers [black and white plus a colored one], a server to be used for storing massive data, as well as two Lenovo desktops.

Samuel Koranteng, Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana explained that the donation is to support the institute manage its data efficiently.

He revealed that the MTN Foundation has since the outbreak of the virus undertaken charity works worth more than GHC5million to help combat the virus.

“We have provided data packages for health workers, supported the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and some educational institutions with a free website,” he added.

He also commended the staff of the institute for their diligent and tireless sacrifice.

“I would like to single out the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research for working day and night to ensure that we stay ahead in this fight. When the country recorded its first case early in March, many of us were consumed with uncertainty not knowing whether our healthcare institutions and research facilities would have the capacity to deal with a virus whose rate of spread has been catastrophic in many parts of the world where we considered had superior facilities”.

Professor Abraham Kwabena Anang, the Director of the Institute expressed gratitude to MTN for the timely gesture

“The institute has done lots of testing but have challenges in data storage. The items would address these problems and help in speedy release of results”.

He said the Institute would continue to uphold its mandate of providing a specialized diagnostic and research services, saying ‘we are better positioned to deliver on our testing results’.