Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/expanding-covid-19-tests-africa-s-most-populous-nation
Expanding COVID-19 tests in Africa’s most populous nation
Source:
WHOPosted30 Apr 2020
Originally published 30 Apr 2020
Abuja, 30 April 2020 – What does it take for Africa’s most populous country to curb the spread of COVID-19? When Nigeria reported its first case of the virus on 27 February 2020, it had only five laboratories in four states able to test for COVID-19. As infection has spread to more states the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) began ramping up testing capacity. There are now 17 laboratories and plans are afoot to set up one laboratory in each of the 36 states. Widespread testing sits at the heart of Nigeria’s COVID-19 battle.
Over the next three months, the NCDC aims to test about two million people. “To achieve this ambitious target, we have to perform 50 000 tests per state. This would require enormous investment and we are working with our partners to achieve this,” says NCDC Director-General Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu.
Measures were readied to tackle COVID-19 before the first case was detected. Nigeria, with the help of World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners, set up the National Reference Laboratory, in the capital Abuja, and by early February was able to test for COVID-19. “It took a mammoth effort from NCDC, WHO and partners to buy and ship kits to Nigeria,” said Dhamari Naidoo, the focal point on laboratories at WHO Nigeria.
WHO has provided technical support, reagents and consumables, as well as supporting sample transportation at the state level, and more recently in collaboration with NCDC, has conducted virtual trainings to scale up capacities for sample collection. WHO also supported the development of the national testing strategy and is working closely with all partners to implement all aspects of the strategy.
Challenges...
Expanding COVID-19 tests in Africa’s most populous nation
Source:
WHOPosted30 Apr 2020
Originally published 30 Apr 2020
Abuja, 30 April 2020 – What does it take for Africa’s most populous country to curb the spread of COVID-19? When Nigeria reported its first case of the virus on 27 February 2020, it had only five laboratories in four states able to test for COVID-19. As infection has spread to more states the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) began ramping up testing capacity. There are now 17 laboratories and plans are afoot to set up one laboratory in each of the 36 states. Widespread testing sits at the heart of Nigeria’s COVID-19 battle.
Over the next three months, the NCDC aims to test about two million people. “To achieve this ambitious target, we have to perform 50 000 tests per state. This would require enormous investment and we are working with our partners to achieve this,” says NCDC Director-General Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu.
Measures were readied to tackle COVID-19 before the first case was detected. Nigeria, with the help of World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners, set up the National Reference Laboratory, in the capital Abuja, and by early February was able to test for COVID-19. “It took a mammoth effort from NCDC, WHO and partners to buy and ship kits to Nigeria,” said Dhamari Naidoo, the focal point on laboratories at WHO Nigeria.
WHO has provided technical support, reagents and consumables, as well as supporting sample transportation at the state level, and more recently in collaboration with NCDC, has conducted virtual trainings to scale up capacities for sample collection. WHO also supported the development of the national testing strategy and is working closely with all partners to implement all aspects of the strategy.
Challenges...