By Obiora Okoye
As we journey into the future as Africans with our unique set of challenges, we need to revisit our problems and align their solutions with advancements in science and technology.
Recently, the world experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, which almost grounded world economies. Its effects in Africa could have been less adverse, as the advanced world already has a contingency plan in place for health-related problems. Thanks to Africa’s sovereign governments, our health workers, researchers, and international support groups. An opportunity for the African stakeholders to secure our future.
One of the ways to solve our unique set of disease and control challenges is by wholeheartedly embrace the opportunities brought by biotechnology field. Africa has human capital and financial muscles to be a major player in order to solve its unique problems. However, for this to happen, there is a need for quality data reporting, storage and utilization system that can support the development of biotechnology.
Biotechnology can help us improve our understanding of diseases and genetic variations by employing different global data sources. This is particularly important in Africa, as the continent has over 2,000 tribes and ethnic groups and high burden of infectious diseases. By leveraging data from different nations and tribes researchers can gain a better knowledge of how diseases and genetic mutations or variations affect different groups.
One example of how global and diverse data sources are being used in Africa is in the field of genomics, a sub-field of biotechnology. By conducting studies on genetic data representing tribes in Africa, these data can be used to identify mutant genes that are causing certain diseases. The discovery could lead to the development of diagnostics tests and appropriate treatments. For example, future reoccurrences of the Ebola virus could be better prepared for by studying the genomic configuration of survivors.
Another area where multi-continental and diverse data can drive biotechnology improvement in Africa is in the field of drug development. By obtaining genetic data from different populations, researchers can identify disease resistant genes that are specific to the African population. This can lead to the development of more effective and targeted drugs for diseases.
Although, the use of global and diverse data is not without its associated problems. One of the biggest set-back is the lack of infrastructure to support the extraction, storage and analysis of big data. Additionally, there is a need for implementing reliable data sharing pipeline and foster collaboration between researchers in different countries and outside Africa.
To overcome these problems, there is a need for huge investment in reliable data infrastructure and implementation of policies that encourage data sharing and foster collaboration and investment in education and training for researchers in Africa on how to use and analyze big data.
In conclusion, the use of global and diverse data has the potential to drive biotechnology-supported solutions in Africa. By leveraging data from different continents and populations, both universities and private researchers can gain a better understanding of diseases and genetic variations.
