The Institute has organised the first lecture of an ‘October Lecture Series’ as part of activities marking the commemoration of the 45th Anniversary of the Institute and the Annual Research Meeting 2024.
Prof. George Enyimah Armah, Professor at the Department of Electron Microscopy and Histopathology at the Institute, and the Head of the West Africa WHO Regional Rotavirus Reference Laboratory in Ghana, delivered the lecture on the title “Rotavirus Vaccine Research and its Impact in Ghana,”.
Prof. Armah’s presentation focused on the significant impact of Rotavirus vaccine research in reducing child mortality in Ghana and across Africa. He described Rotavirus as a leading cause of severe diarrhoea in infants and young children, particularly in low and middle-income countries, contributing to many childhood deaths.
He further explained how, through extensive research, it became evident that introducing the Rotavirus vaccine into Ghana’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) was crucial. He reiterated the vaccine’s regional impact, highlighting collaborations with neighbouring countries to combat rotavirus transmission. “Rotavirus was a major contributor to child mortality due to diarrhoea, and this vaccine has been a game changer,” Prof. Armah noted.
Prof. Amarh recalled the 1990s, a time when diarrhoea was a major health crisis, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. At that time, diagnostic capabilities in Ghana were limited, focusing primarily on bacterial causes, while viral infections like Rotavirus remained undetected. “Noguchi was probably the only place in Ghana where bacterial cultures could be done,” he recalled, emphasizing the challenges in fully diagnosing severe diarrhoea cases.
This pressing issue prompted Prof. Armah and his team to investigate Rotavirus as a cause of diarrhoea, leveraging one of the Institute’s early electron microscopes. The introduction of this technology proved to be a turning point in understanding the virus’s role in childhood diarrheal diseases in Ghana and across Africa.
“One of the things that pushed me forward was the electron microscope,” he said. “It was the primary tool for virological diagnosis, and seeing Rotavirus under the microscope for the first time was fascinating.”
His ongoing research continues to assess the effectiveness of the Rotavirus vaccine, with the goal of further reducing child mortality rates. He concluded his lecture by urging parents to vaccinate their children to prevent severe diarrhoeal diseases.
During a brief opening ceremony to mark the Lecture Series, Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Director of NMIMR, provided a brief history of the Institute, emphasizing its long-standing commitment to advancing public health research. She noted that the founding vision of the people who initiated the establishment of the Institute continues to drive the dedicated work of its scientists and staff.
“For 45 years, we have kept their legacy alive,” she said. “The flame has not dimmed, thanks to the tireless efforts of men and women who work to ensure that NMIMR’s mission not only survives but thrives.”
Prof. Yeboah-Manu further highlighted NMIMR’s leadership in various global health interventions, underscoring its role in shaping health policies and disease prevention strategies in Ghana since 1979. One such intervention, she recalled, was related to diarrheal diseases: “Previously, we believed diarrhoea was mainly caused by Salmonella and Shigella. However, a researcher from NMIMR identified additional pathogens, which ultimately led to the inclusion of a vaccine in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).”
The five-week lecture series will continue over the next four weeks, featuring presentations on the Institute’s contributions to HIV research, influenza and malaria research in Ghana, and the Institute’s impact on the Ghana Health Service’s Disease Surveillance and Emergency Response System.