WHO Donates Laboratory Equipment to Strengthen Rotavirus Sentinel Surveillance in Ghana

In 2024, fewer than half of the samples collected at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) rotavirus sentinel site were tested due to resource constraints, threatening the quality and reliability of surveillance data. In a continued effort to reduce this burden, World Health Organization (WHO) has donated a Microplate Photometer and rotavirus rapid diagnostic test kits to the site in Kumasi. The donation is expected to significantly strengthen laboratory capacity and improve results turnaround time. The donation, part of WHO’s broader commitment to health system strengthening, was warmly received by the KATH surveillance team.

“WHO has been with us from the beginning. This equipment will go a long way in improving our turnaround time and ensuring that our data is timely and actionable,” said Professor Emmanuel Addo-Yobo, the site coordinator.

Mr. Kwabena Adjei Asante, a laboratory technologist at the facility, added, “The new Microplate Photometer will significantly reduce delays. We’ll be able to process more samples, faster, and with greater accuracy.”

Speaking at the donation of the items, the WHO Vaccine Initiative Officer, Dr. Michael Rockson Adjei, emphasized the importance of the donation. “This is part of our commitment to ensure that Ghana’s disease surveillance system is not only functional but resilient. Accurate and timely data is essential to protect our children and to inform life-saving decisions”, he said.

The WHO team also used the opportunity to engage directly with the surveillance team at KATH and review site performance.

Following the donation, the team visited four affiliate health facilities in Kumasi—Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Kumasi South Government Hospital, Asokwa Children’s Hospital, and Manhyia Government Hospital. These facilities play vital roles in identifying diarrhea cases and collecting stool samples for testing.

Each one contributes uniquely: Maternal and Child Health Hospital serves as a major referral centre for pediatric cases; Kumasi South Government Hospital covers peri-urban populations; Asokwa Children’s Hospital specializes in child health; and Manhyia Government Hospital provides essential services in densely populated, low-income areas.

Ghana’s rotavirus surveillance journey began in 2006 when WHO supported the establishment of a sentinel site at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. The goal was to collect data on rotavirus prevalence among children under age five years hospitalized for diarrhea. The findings showed rotavirus was responsible for around 50% of cases. To validate the national relevance of the observation, a second site was set up at KATH. The results confirmed the burden, prompting the Ministry of Health to introduce the rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix, into the childhood immunization schedule in 2012. This led to a marked decline in rotavirus-related diarrhea cases to below 30%. In 2020, Ghana transitioned to a more cost-effective and cold chain-efficient vaccine, Rotavac, which continued to demonstrate positive impact, evident from sentinel surveillance data.

With WHO’s continuous support—ranging from funding and laboratory supplies to transitioning from paper-based systems to the real-time, web-based REDCap platform—Ghana’s sentinel sites are better equipped than ever to provide the timely, high-quality data needed to drive public health decisions. These efforts ensure that Ghana remains prepared, data-driven, and committed to protecting its youngest citizens from preventable diseases.

For Additional Information or to Request Interviews, Please contact:
Abdul-Lahie Abdul-Rahim Naa
Communications Officer
WHO Ghana Country Office
Email: abdullahiea@who.int
Tel: +233 20 196 2393