Kogi state government is set to partner with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC), in its effort to stem the increasing rate of infection and also curb the menace of the coronavirus pandemic in the state.
The commissioner for health, Dr Saka Audu Haruna made this known in Lokoja when he received a team from the Centre for disease control
Dr Saka Haruna who welcomed the team to the state said a lot of misinformation had been widely reported in the past concerning the pandemic in the state.
Hence after weeks of discussion with the leadership of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and the director-general of the NCDC, this led to the invitation of the NCDC officials to the state to have a firsthand feel of the situation themselves.
The commissioner equally talked about the measures put in place by the governor, to mitigate the spread of the virus.
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At a presentation made by the state epidemiologist, Dr Austin Ojotule, a breakdown of the state’s COVID-19 response activities from March till date was highlighted and reviewed.
In his response, the NCDC team expressed appreciation to the state government for the warm reception, and the effort made so far in the fight against the pandemic. It added that Kogi state is very important and therefore must join hands in the fight against the spread of the virus.
The team leader further stressed that the lesson learnt in their earlier visit to the state had shown that the governor is well informed about the disease.
He added that their coming to the state was to support the management structure in the state and to set up a molecular laboratory with pcr across the state to enhance easy testing.
He however solicited more collaboration and synergy between the state and the agency to mitigation the spread and find lasting solution to the pandemic.
The NCDC will stay in the state for two weeks
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)