In order to continue contributing from academia to the mitigation of the Covid-19 emergency, Yachay Tech received a new donation of reagents and supplies by the German Technical Cooperation GIZ in Ecuador, through the SI-Frontera program, which will allow it to continue with the processing of PCR tests.

The GIZ Ecuador donation contributes to the effort to meet the needs of the northern part of the country, through the work and scientific contingent of Yachay Tech that makes it possible to provide solutions with a group of professors and technicians dedicated to carrying out the diagnostics.

The donated supplies include micropipette tips (0.1-10ul, 313 boxes; 1-100ul, 417 boxes; 100-1000ul, 267 boxes), plates / wells for 48,000 samples (500 units), 1 microcentrifuge; a set of adapters with 24 microliter reducers; a set of adapters with 24 PCR reaction reducers and 52 RNA extraction kits.

José María Lalama, PhD., Rector of Yachay Tech, pointed out that “We gratefully welcome everyone who has been essential for the University to serve the community through the processing of COVID-19 samples. GIZ Ecuador has shown unconditional support in contributing to the well-being of citizens of the northern part of the country. Since my arrival at Yachay, I have seen the large human contingent. The efforts of each employee allow for the efficient and coordinated movement of the university engine to achieve the objectives of being not only a training entity for scientists, but also an engine with technological and innovation value for the society”. The Rector highlighted the inter-institutional work carried out and thanked the tireless, honest and transparent work that allows us to continue in the search for knowledge to solve specific problems in the country.

The Rector pointed out that: “Yachay Tech has designed strategies from its academic perspective to promote innovation and research. Our Biology laboratory is destined to the processing of COVID-19 tests that benefit the northern region of Ecuador. We have received numerous donations and we celebrate and appreciate the delivery of an immeasurable number of supplies and reagents that will serve to continue with the processing. Hence the importance of Yachay Tech as a University, of our scientists, professors, students and employees. This is a University that seeks scientific development. We will be the best University in Latin America due to the training, infrastructure and human contingent that we have. We are able to continue growing”, he added.

Julia Unger, national coordinator of GIZ’s SI-Frontera program, stated that “I am very satisfied because what we have achieved here is important and transcendental. Yachay Tech’s social commitment to the community, has been fundamental for us during this pandemic. From early on, this alliance that we established became a relationship of absolute trust, of sharing and moving forward. The University’s commitment to allocate the work of its laboratory and its staff to process the PCR tests has been key to moving forward. I am grateful for all the contribution of the University, where personal commitment goes far beyond their work, a commitment to society. We can overcome this pandemic together”.

This contribution will allow the University to continue with the processing of the PCR tests that were donated by GIZ Ecuador. So far, 7,248 have been processed; 150 to 300 samples are received every day from Imbabura, Carchi, Esmeraldas and Sucumbíos.