Local Government Areas to get more testing, diagnostic materials

The 774 Local Government Areas in the country would have 12 various items for testing of covid-19 as the federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N8.49 billion for Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to procure the items.

The approval would enable the NCDC to procure testing and diagnostic kits for the 774 LGAs to curb the spread of the virus.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made this known while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the 11th virtual meeting of the Council.

Ehanire said, “The Minister of Health presented a memo on behalf of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to procure materials for preparation for COVID-19 pandemic which is ravaging all parts of the world including our country.

“This is part of the preparedness for community transmission which is going on now and has affected 586 Local Government Areas and we need materials to expand our testing and diagnostic capabilities.

“This memo is the result of the Presidential Task Force COVID-19 and special intervention for COVID-19 which is operated by the Presidential Task Force which allocated these resources for NCDC preparedness.

“So, we are procuring testing materials right from sample materials to other kits for diagnostics in our laboratory system to be able to respond properly to the community transmission phase.

“We have already made plans to have at least one sample collection site in every local government, minimum of 774 and these resources would be necessary to go round the 774 local government areas to ensure that persons in the rural areas or small towns are not excluded and to ensure that not only the big cities are the ones being attended to.

“So, that is the basis for the entire memo.”

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