Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has kicked-off a rapid testing initiative for COVID-19 in the state, declaring that the outcome of the exercise would help contain the spread of the virus.
Governor Makinde, who declared open the COVID-19 Drive-Through/Walk-Through Testing, an initiative that is expected to test 2,000 samples within two weeks, at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, said the rapid testing initiative aligned to his administration’s commitment to test at least 10,000 residents within a short time.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, on Tuesday, quoted the Governor as saying that the state was scaling up testing in alignment with expert opinions that the best way to contain and control the spread of the novel Coronavirus is by ensuring mass testing.
Governor Makinde appreciated the Citizen for Citizen, a non-governmental organisation headed by Ibukun Awosika, which provided the 2,000 testing kits and the LifeBank Nigeria, for partnering with the state on rapid testing for COVID-19.
Speaking on behalf of the NGO, Temidayo Olatunbosun, said that the guidelines of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, would be strictly followed in conducting the COVID-19 tests in Oyo State.
She also urged residents of the state who have the COVID-19 symptoms to call the emergency operation centre for necessary action.
In his speech, Governor Makinde said: “Experts have opined that the best place to start in solving our peculiar problems is by ramping up our testing capabilities. For this reason, a few weeks ago, the Oyo State Government, in collaboration with the University College Hospital, Ibadan, set up a diagnostic centre to test for COVID-19 right here in Ibadan.
“The flag-off that we are witnessing here today is a culmination of weeks of planning and hard work. Even before the index case was recorded in the state, on the 21st of March, we had started putting things in place to ensure that we will be able to prevent, contain, and control the spread of COVID-19 in Oyo State.”
Governor Makinde, who also used the occasion to appreciate health workers in the state for putting their lives at risk for the people, assured that his administration would continue to prioritise their welfare and safety.
Today, we started the drive/walk-through testing initiative for COVID-19 to test 2,000 people at Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan. The test kits were donated by the Citizen for Citizen Initiative and the tests are executed by @LifeBankNigeria.
— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) April 14, 2020
Full video https://t.co/vVCdiPIa5t pic.twitter.com/lcPtfif5kT
The Governor stated that 610 personal protective equipment were already on ground for the use of health workers while the State has also ordered an additional 400.
He hinted that health workers would be the first to be tested in the drive-through/walk-through testing exercise.
The Governor further warned residents of the state not to take lightly the government’s warnings and directives on COVID-19, adding that the virus is real.
