Kenya Becomes First in Sub-Saharan Africa to Get Life-Saving Diagnosis Technology
Kenya Becomes First in Sub-Saharan Africa to Get Life-Saving Diagnosis Technology
AKU
Media Source: MSN
Date: 29 September 2025
Kenya is now the first country in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa to receive a lifesaving diagnosis technology of infectious diseases that cuts treatment time from 18 to 30 minutes. The new Vitek MS Prime system from bioMérieux utilises MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to rapidly identify bacteria, fungi, yeast, and other…
Kenya is now the first country in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa to receive a lifesaving diagnosis technology of infectious diseases that cuts treatment time from 18 to 30 minutes. The new Vitek MS Prime system from bioMérieux utilises MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to rapidly identify bacteria, fungi, yeast, and other hard-to-detect pathogens that cause illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis, gastroenteritis, and urinary tract infections. The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH, N), has acquired the advanced Vitek MS Prime model, underscoring Kenya’s leadership in diagnostic innovation. Dr. Shaheen Sayed, Chair of the Department of Pathology at the AKUH,N, said the hospital no longer needs to send samples abroad for confirmation. “This technology accelerates diagnosis, improves accuracy, and enables timely, targeted treatment, helping curb inappropriate antibiotic use, fight antimicrobial resistance, and save patients unnecessary costs,” she explained.