The Nigeria Center for Disease
Control, in its Regional Strategy to Scale Up Access to Coronavirus Disease
Research in Nigeria, reported on its website that the purpose of preparing to
re-use tuberculosis machines was to decentralize and speed up research around
the world and improve national surveillance of COVID-19.
Control, in its Regional Strategy to Scale Up Access to Coronavirus Disease
Research in Nigeria, reported on its website that the purpose of preparing to
re-use tuberculosis machines was to decentralize and speed up research around
the world and improve national surveillance of COVID-19.
Nevertheless, the Federal Government
may be able to increase its weekly COVID-19 testing by 9,100 following its
readiness to repurpose the tuberculosis GeneXpert machines already deployed in
all the states and the Federal Capital Territory, Saturday.
may be able to increase its weekly COVID-19 testing by 9,100 following its
readiness to repurpose the tuberculosis GeneXpert machines already deployed in
all the states and the Federal Capital Territory, Saturday.
In the document, the NCDC explained
that the country has 407 GeneXpert instruments deployed in 399 health
facilities across the country, for use as first-line testing for TB diagnosis.
It, however, noted that the United States-based Food and Drug Administration
had granted the manufacturer, Cepheid, Emergency Use Authorisations for the use
of the instruments and specially designed cartridge in testing for COVID-19.
that the country has 407 GeneXpert instruments deployed in 399 health
facilities across the country, for use as first-line testing for TB diagnosis.
It, however, noted that the United States-based Food and Drug Administration
had granted the manufacturer, Cepheid, Emergency Use Authorisations for the use
of the instruments and specially designed cartridge in testing for COVID-19.
The NCDC, which is the coordinating
agency for the COVID-19 response in the country, said that “every state of the
federation including the FCT has at least five GeneXpert sites, at least one
site in each state will be repurposed for COVID-19 testing.”
agency for the COVID-19 response in the country, said that “every state of the
federation including the FCT has at least five GeneXpert sites, at least one
site in each state will be repurposed for COVID-19 testing.”
It noted that with the GeneXpert
machines, each of which could test 24 samples daily, it is targeting 1,300
tests per day with ability to return test results same day, and since the NCDC
conducts tests every day of the week, Nigeria could therefore increase its
weekly testing by 9,100.
machines, each of which could test 24 samples daily, it is targeting 1,300
tests per day with ability to return test results same day, and since the NCDC
conducts tests every day of the week, Nigeria could therefore increase its
weekly testing by 9,100.
The NCDC added, that there are also
available in-country two mobile laboratories equipped with two GeneXpert
instruments each. These will be deployed as needed to support COVID-19 testing
surge in target states.
available in-country two mobile laboratories equipped with two GeneXpert
instruments each. These will be deployed as needed to support COVID-19 testing
surge in target states.
The planned decentralised testing
using GeneXpert will enable states to test low volume samples (1–24 samples
daily) with same day return of results, while bulk samples will be referred to
the Central/Regional PCR Laboratories as elucidated above. This will increase
the country’s testing capacity by additional 1,300 tests per day.”
using GeneXpert will enable states to test low volume samples (1–24 samples
daily) with same day return of results, while bulk samples will be referred to
the Central/Regional PCR Laboratories as elucidated above. This will increase
the country’s testing capacity by additional 1,300 tests per day.”
Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health said
at the briefing by the Presidential task Force on COVID-19 on Friday that
government envisaged a steady rise in the number of cases with “more diligent
testing, treatment, isolation and (contact) tracing.”
at the briefing by the Presidential task Force on COVID-19 on Friday that
government envisaged a steady rise in the number of cases with “more diligent
testing, treatment, isolation and (contact) tracing.”
He added that in the use of the
GeneXpert machines, the government would prioritise Sokoto and Borno states as
soon as the cartridges begin to arrive in a few weeks.
GeneXpert machines, the government would prioritise Sokoto and Borno states as
soon as the cartridges begin to arrive in a few weeks.
He said, “A Federal Ministry of Health
team has been assembled to proceed to Sokoto and Borno on fact-finding and
support missions to engage with state authorities and determine material and
technical needs.
team has been assembled to proceed to Sokoto and Borno on fact-finding and
support missions to engage with state authorities and determine material and
technical needs.
“A most immediate probability is the
prioritisation of these states for the deployment of repurposed GeneXpert
machines as soon as we start receiving the cartridges in a few weeks to bring
speed to testing.”
prioritisation of these states for the deployment of repurposed GeneXpert
machines as soon as we start receiving the cartridges in a few weeks to bring
speed to testing.”
Speaking on the index case in Benue
State, Ehanire said the government was able to persuade Mrs Susan Idoko-Okpe to
allow her test sample to be taken to the laboratory for testing on Thursday and
that the result was being awaited, noting that it would be given to her in
person.
State, Ehanire said the government was able to persuade Mrs Susan Idoko-Okpe to
allow her test sample to be taken to the laboratory for testing on Thursday and
that the result was being awaited, noting that it would be given to her in
person.
He said that the annual World Health
Assembly held every year in Geneva, Switzerland will begin on Monday by
teleconference, and he would lead the Nigerian delegation to the conference,
which he said would concentrate on global dissemination and response to
COVID-19.
Assembly held every year in Geneva, Switzerland will begin on Monday by
teleconference, and he would lead the Nigerian delegation to the conference,
which he said would concentrate on global dissemination and response to
COVID-19.
Ehanire noted that the government had
not allowed Nigerians to be treated by foreign medical practitioners.
not allowed Nigerians to be treated by foreign medical practitioners.
