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The Federal Government said it plans to increase its weekly coronavirus testing capacity by 9,100 following its readiness to repurpose the tuberculosis GeneXpert machines already deployed in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
According to an information available on the website of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, it was noted that the objective of planning to repurpose the tuberculosis machines were to decentralise and speed up testing across the country and strengthen national surveillance for COVID-19.
In the document titled: ‘National Strategy to Scale Up Access to Coronavirus Disease Testing in Nigeria’, the NCDC 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.
“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,”the health agency added.
“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.”
Speaking at the briefing of the Presidential task Force PTF on COVID-19 on Friday, the health minister Osagie Ehanire said a 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,” he added.
Also at the briefing, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha observed the reduction in treatment of non-COVID-19 patients and urged governors to ensure the health services continued in their states as stated in the protocol.
“We have also noticed a marked reduction in the delivery of non-COVID-19 related services in our hospitals. The Minister of Health had on several occasions implored our health institutions not to jeopardise offering critical health services to patients who require attention,” Mustapha said.
“The PTF wishes to reiterate this call and request that health service providers should help relieve the burden of diseases in the country by offering the required services.
“As of present, records show that we may be experiencing more unnecessary deaths because our hospitals are turning back non-COVID-19 related patients.”
