Crucial contribution of the universities to SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in Ecuador: Lessons for developing countries
Daniela Santander‐Gordón, Gabriel A. Iturralde, Byron Freire‐Paspuel, Marlon S. Zambrano-Mila, Diana Morales-Jadán, Alexander Paolo Vallejo-Janeta, Barbara Coronel, Heberson Galvis, Tatiana Jaramillo-Vivanco, Christian David Bilvao, Maria Belen Paredes-Espinosa, Ángel Sebastián Rodríguez-Pazmiño, Juan Carlos Laglaguano, Henry Herrera, Ana M. Tito-Álvarez, Esteban Ortiz‐Prado, Ismar A. Rivera‐Olivero, Aquiles R. Henríquez-Trujillo, Tannya Lozada, Miguel Ángel García-Bereguiain
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic has challenged public health systems worldwide, particularly affecting developing countries in Latin America like Ecuador. In this report, we exposed the fundamental role of the Ecuadorian universities to improve COVID-19 surveillance in the country, with an overall contribution over 15% of the total SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests done. We highlight the role of our university during the first semester of the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to a massive free SARS-CoV-2 testing up to almost 10% of the total diagnosis completed in the country, mainly focus on underserved urban, rural and indigenous communities. Finally, we described our contribution to a high quality and low-cost SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR diagnostic in Ecuador.