Revna Biosciences (www.RevnaBio.com) has carved a niche for itself in Ghana and West Africa by being the first facility in the region to secure dual ISO accreditations: ISO 15189:2022 for clinical diagnostics and ISO 20387:2018 for biobanking. This milestone is a testament to RevnaBio’s unwavering commitment to championing precision medicine by propelling molecular diagnostics and therapeutic discovery in the region.

A Pledge to Quality and Patient Care

The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) has bestowed the ISO 15189:2022 accreditation upon Revna Biosciences, acknowledging its dedication to delivering top-tier clinical testing services. The accreditation process entailed a rigorous on-site evaluation by A2LA’s assessors, verifying the facility’s compliance with strict standards of precision, reliability, and patient confidentiality.

Revna Biosciences’ accreditation encompasses an extensive array of human sample tests, including those involving urine, swabs, blood, bone marrow, tissue samples, and plasma. With a specialization in bacteriology, virology, and molecular pathology, the facility is dedicated to providing patients with accurate and dependable diagnoses.

Biobanking Excellence

Revna Biosciences has also earned accreditation for its biobanking practices under ISO 20387:2018. This accreditation spans the entire biospecimen lifecycle, from collection and acquisition to preservation, testing, storage, and distribution of various tissues and blood products. The company’s adherence to international standards guarantees the quality and integrity of biospecimen, thereby contributing to advancements in global medical research.

Dr. Derrick Edem Akpalu, CEO and Co-founder of Revna Biosciences, stated, “Our dual ISO accreditations reflect our commitment to excellence and quality, from sample collection to data analysis. This not only reassures patients but also benefits researchers and industry partners. These accreditations enhance our clinical research services, paving the way for global therapeutics and diagnostics development. By adhering to these ISO standards, we ensure the reliability of our archived biosamples and data, thereby enriching clinicogenomic insights and propelling the advancement of personalized medicine in the region. “

Dr. Yaw Asare-Aboagye, a board member of the company, added, “We aim to meet the highest international standards as we are dedicated to enhancing access to top-quality healthcare and research facilities, especially in Africa where the demand for such services is paramount.”

Global Recognition and Industry Alignment

A2LA, the accrediting organization, is renowned for its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Deemed Status and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Recognition, an indication of its reputation as an accrediting board in global clinical diagnostics. Furthermore, RevnaBio is a member of ISBER, an international forum for biobanking that advocates for high-quality standards and innovation in biorepository management. Revna Biosciences’ achievement aligns with global recognition and industry standards, positioning the company at the vanguard of medical innovation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Revna Biosciences.

About Revna Biosciences:
With an operational base in Accra, Ghana, and serving across West Africa, Revna Biosciences (RevnaBio) is a biomedical company committed to advancing molecular diagnostics and therapeutic discovery. With a mission to champion precision medicine for all, RevnaBio is devoted to unraveling the biological underpinnings of diseases affecting Africans, people of African descent, and the global population.

RevnaBio offers a comprehensive suite of services, including advanced molecular diagnostics, biobanking, biomarker exploration, clinical research, central lab services, disease monitoring, treatment selection, and trial management. Through strategic alliances with international biotech leaders such as QIAGEN, Diatech Pharmacogenetics, and Idil Biotech, RevnaBio delivers cutting-edge biomedical services in the heart of West Africa.

RevnaBio holds all necessary local permits and licenses, including the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) permit for tertiary laboratories. RevnaBio has the approval of Ghana’s Food&Drugs Authority (FDA), is dual ISO accredited (ISO  15189:2022; ISO 20387:2018) by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and a member of the International Society of Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER).

For more information about Revna Biosciences and its groundbreaking work in precision medicine, please contact +233-59-900-9977 or visit www.RevnaBio.com.

Representatives from districts that are tackling debilitating impacts of climate change ranging from drought to floods, gathered today with civil society organizations, academics, donor partners and ministers to scale up action on adaptation as part of three days of events organized by the Government of Uganda with the support of the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). Participants hope to learn valuable lessons in accessing additional resources to adapt to climate change and potentially save lives.

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to share experience in investing in adaptation with the UNCDF Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL), a mechanism for channeling climate finance to local governments for locally led adaptation to climate change. It further contributes to the implementation of the Paris Agreements, Uganda’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions, the on-going National Adaptation Plan process and up-coming National Climate Finance Strategy 2023-2030 as well as cross-cutting priorities for the country through the National Development Plan III.

After one year of LoCAL implementation, attendees will share lessons learned and begin preparations towards embedding the financing mechanism into national systems for nationwide investment in resilience building.

“I’m excited about this week because we join as local governments the other governments that have been piloting LoCAL,” said Lokol Paul, Chairperson of Nabilatuk District in Uganda’s northern Karamoja Subregion. “These are communities that have been highly impacted by climate change, such as mine in Karamoja, and have been experiencing a lot of [climate] stress.”

“Having a project like [LoCAL] brings hope because … we will also use this project to address adaptive capacities and resilience capacities so that we lower the risk of people dying due to climate change,” he added.

The UNCDF LoCAL Facility channels climate finance to local governments for locally led adaptation using a system of Performance Based Climate Resilience Grants (PBCRGs) combined with capacity building and technical support, that has delivered positive results for millions of people around the world to date. LoCAL grants, made possible with funding from Belgium, Denmark and the European Union, are being dispersed to eight districts across Uganda for investment in locally identified climate adaptation projects such as flood protections or irrigation systems.

“As adaptation to climate change is inherently local, it is essential that climate finance and related support reach the most vulnerable communities of Uganda as directly as possible while supporting accountability,” said Sophie De Coninck, Global Climate Facility Manager and Head of the UNCDF Uganda Office. “Districts are well placed to make sure climate change strategies are implemented at the local level in a risk informed, inclusive and transparent manner.”

The three-day event in the capital Kampala brings together local, national and international stakeholders and is organised by the Government of Uganda via its Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Ministry of Water and Environment, with support from the UNCDF. District Representatives from all the LoCAL-implementing communities – Kasese, Nebbi, Nwoya and Zombo – have been invited to share their experience and lessons learned. Their insights will inform the next phase of LoCAL scale up starting this financial year in four more climate change vulnerable districts: Bulambuli, Kitgum, Nabilatuk and Nakapiripirit.

The UNCDF LoCAL Facility is engaged with over 35 countries across Africa, Asia the Caribbean and Pacific, mobilizing over US$ 200 million in climate finance to date and realizing adaptation results for more than 18 million people. While a global facility, the LoCAL mechanism is designed to deliver on local needs by working with national systems to channel climate finance to the subnational level in developing and least developed countries. In the global context of a changing climate, this week’s events in Kampala are expected to advance further the implementation of Uganda’s Nationally Determined Contributions, National Climate Change Policy 2015 and Act 2021, National Development Plan III, the on-going NAP process and up-coming National Climate Finance Strategy for 2030.

The attendees from eight Ugandan districts took part in a pre-event ‘Stakeholder engagement with local governments on the upcoming National Climate Finance Strategy 2023 – 2030’, organized by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and with the support from UNCDF. In doing so, the districts and their communities were able to share their insights on what is happening on the ground, to inform the national strategy and help address any gaps. This in turn helps strengthen the vertical integration of those plans and strategies, making sure that climate finance can be channeled where it is most needed at the subnational level.

LoCAL activities in Uganda were designed with the financial support of the European Union, a long-time supporter of the UNCDF LoCAL Facility since its design and early pilots over a decade ago. In line with the Team Europe approach to coordinated European action on the global climate challenge, the EU funding is joined with additional support from Government of Sweden and Government of Belgium.

“We are delighted to work hand in hand with the Government of Uganda as they embark on this new period of adaptation action in the country,” said Caroline Adriaensen, the Head of Cooperation of the EU delegation to Uganda. “The EU and its Member States are committed to sustainable and locally led adaptation to the impacts of climate change that prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable, and the UNCDF LoCAL Facility is a welcome and effective solution for delivering on this urgent and pressing need.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

H.E Kingsford Amoako paid a courtesy call on the Ghanaian community in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County on 19TH April, 2024. He used the opportunity to familiarize himself with the Immigration Service in the county who assured him that Ghanaian nationals will not be harassed.

The Head of Mission also paid a courtesy call on the Police Command in Cape Mount County and held discussions with the Commander and his team about peaceful coexistence in the County. On Saturday, 20th April 2024, the Head of Mission, accompanied by the Members of Mission Staff including the Head of Consular, Mr Obed N.Y. Sarpong; First Secretary/ Consular, Mr Richard Sackitey; First Secretary, Perez Agbetiameh, embarked on a familiarisation tour of Robertsport ahead of his engagement with the Ghanaian communities in Grand Cape Mount. Immigration Officials also accompanied the Head of Mission on the tour.

During his engagement with the Ghanaian community in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount, Head of Mission, H.E Kingsford Amoako, held a mentorship session and presented learning materials and stationery to final year students of Robertsport High School and Episcopal High School. The Ambassador urged the Community to ensure that they obtain their required documentations, such as birth certificates for those born in Liberia and Ghana passports, to regularise their stay in the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of Ghana in Liberia.

Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire signed a Memorandum of Understanding for establishing cooperation in the field of sports. The signing ceremony was held in Dar es Salaam on 21st April 2024 during the visit to Tanzania by Hon. Adje Silas, Minister of Sport of Cote d’Ivoire. Hon. Silas and his delegation were in Tanzania for an official visit from 18-22 April 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of High Commission of the United Republic of Tanzania Abuja, Nigeria.