The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, is to establish a molecular laboratory in Nasarawa State to enable medical experts to carry out tests for the dreaded COVID-19.
The Director-General of the centre, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, announced this while on a visit to Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, at the Government House, in Lafia, the state capital.
The need to ramp up testing centres in Nigeria was echoed as one of the ways to identify and treat cases of Covid-19
Dr. Ihekweazu, who was in the state on an official visit said he will work with the state government to set up the laboratory in the next few weeks, following the increase in the number of positive cases in the state. Ihekweazu used the visit to also inspect facilities at the Nasarawa State Infectious Diseases Control Centre, in Lafia, the state capital.
While commending the State Governor for investing heavily in the health of the people, the NCDC DG said the state owned Infectious Diseases Control Centre, provides a great opportunity to harness resources and expertise from the state, alongside the support from the NCDC.
Dr. Ihekweazu promised to report to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on the progress made in Nasarawa State, with a view to supporting the state further
When the molecular laboratory comes to fruition, COVID-19 test will be conducted in Lafia, instead of taking samples to Abuja for the analysis.
Responding, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, explained that even though the state lacks the resources to complete the centre on its own, efforts are geared towards getting support from within and outside the state.
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The governor added that efforts to provide the necessary infrastructure in order to facilitate easy access to the facility are on and noted that with the setting up of the centre, Nasarawa State is looking beyond the current coronavirus pandemic but will be ready for any outbreak of other infectious diseases.
(Editor: Nkoli Omohudu)
