SToP-CoV – Corona Global

Short Description

The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) is an Island state in Sub-Saharan Africa with approximately 200,000 inhabitants.

Laboratory diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a crucial component in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the insufficient diagnostic capacity to detect SARS-CoV-2 in STP, it is assumed that COVID-19 cases are under-reported in STP. Hence, support in the field of molecular testing, including whole-genome sequencing for molecular surveillance of SARS-CoV-2, is required to meet the demand for testing, to ensure quality control, establish a molecular surveillance and thus to help contain the pandemic.

As part of the long-term strategy to combat COVID-19 and moreover to prepare for future epidemics, there is a need to build a functioning surveillance system that enables the early detection and identification of COVID-19 cases. In order to specifically protect vulnerable groups from infections, the capacity in the area of prevention and control of infections in the health sector is also supported. The capacity built within the framework of SToP-CoV will also be important for combating other infectious diseases. The SToP-CoV project lays the foundation for the development of detection and molecular diagnostics for other pathogens, which is key for an effective response mechanism to ensure national and international health security.

Project Objectives

Objectives of the SToP-CoV project are to:

1. Support the COVID-19 response in STP by strengthening national laboratory capacity
2. Establishment of a national molecular surveillance for SARS-CoV-2, for early detection of emerging genetic variants of the virus
3. Prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through capacity building in infection prevention and control

Last update: September 2021