Zanzibar Government received EDE Covid scanners from Abu Dhabi, Dubai on Wednesday morning at 6:30am on February 16, 2022 at Abeid Amani Kurume International Airport, Terminal 3.
EDE scanners employ technology that can detect a possible COVID-19 infection by measuring electromagnetic waves, which change when RNA particles of the virus are present in a person’s body, thus providing an immediate result. This will be a relief to thousands of COVID-negative tourists who will be assured of safe and accessible entry into Zanzibar without the hassle of enduring an uncomfortable nasal swab.
This move by the government is indicative of its vision to harness modern technology to create opportunity in difficult times. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and as the virus continues to mutate into more variants, EDE scanners are a safe precautionary method that will help create safer spaces and maintain public health.
Speaking during the reception of the EDE scanners at Abeid Amani Kurume International Airport, HE Hussein Mwinyi said:
“The pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on people, communities and industries, particularly the travel industry. For this reason, we are pleased to collaborate with Sanimed, a subsidiary of IHC Group, to launch these innovative EDE scanners in Zanzibar, to introduce greater efficiency for travelers passing through Zanzibar as a port of entry.”
The receipt of these scanners, which will be the first of their kind in Africa, will mark Zanzibar as the precedent-setting country in the fight against COVID and cement the dedication of the Office of the President and the Ministry of Health in ensuring that the people from Zanzibar and Tanzania in general have access to the best healthcare technology out there.
“Africa remains a hotbed of innovation and technology. We are pleased to launch this first-of-its-kind EDE scanner to revolutionize COVID-19 testing in collaboration with the Government of Zanzibar,” said Ajhay Bhatia, CEO of Sanimed International.
“As the operator of the world’s largest COVID 19 diagnostic facility, we have decided to partner with Alfa care to deploy one of our state-of-the-art testing facilities and laboratories in Zanzibar to integrate scanning technology to provide travelers with with a comfort that adapts to the changing world in which we live”. he added.
The state-of-the-art laboratory and testing facility will create a shared protocol for all incoming and outgoing passengers between the two countries, paving the way for creating Africa’s first Green Channels with the Middle East and other global travel hubs.
The scanners will be part of a $1 billion research and laboratory project that the Zanzibar government will benefit from once installed, as they are non-contact and can be used for mass screening. This integrated approach to combating COVID-19 will give tourists peace of mind as they can easily move through entry points while being assured of their COVID-19 safety.
