The Government of Dominica is the first in the organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to obtain an advanced piece of diagnostic equipment for plant and animal diagnosis for the veterinary and plant protection and quarantine services of the Division of Agriculture.
Chief Veterinary Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Reginald Thomas, told GIS news that the upgraded real-time diagnostic equipment was acquired through the assistance of the European Union Banana Accompanying Measures Programme, BAM.
He explained, “PCR is polymerese chain reaction ; so it’s a diagnostic technique that utilizes the DNA of the pathogens that you are looking for. Its an upgraded system of diagnostics which basically, once an agent has been present or is present, will be able to diagnose it...”
He says this equipment places Dominica at the cutting edge of diagnostics in the region.
“Back in 2005, when we had the first set up we were the only island in CARICOM with exception of Jamaica to have a real-time PCR as a diagnostic test. Right now with real time capacities, we are the only ones in the OECS with the exception St. Kitts through Ross University,” he said.
Dr. Thomas explained that with the introduction of this equipment, the Division of Agriculture has the capability to enhance the diagnostic capability at the veterinary services.
“ This diagnostic piece gives us as a division, as the Ministry of Agriculture an enhanced diagnostic capability that benefits not only agriculture but by far and wide Dominica.”
He revealed that although the equipment was received in 2014, it was only commissioned last week when staff was trained.
Dr. Thomas believes that “this capacity will enhance the work that we do both for plants and animals. We are faced with several challenges as it relates to diseases and as such once we have that capacity we believe that we can make Dominica safer; protect our agriculture; protect our public health.”
The new real-time PCR system has been designed to complement the current PCR system at the Division of Agriculture.