COVID-19: NCDC Designates Kwara as Test Centre

Kwara State has officially been designated a test centre for COVID-19 pandemic by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Chairman of the State’s Medical Advisory on COVID-19 Dr Femi Oladiji in a statement says the NCDC has approved the automated GeneXpert laboratory, which is stationed at the COVID-19/Infectious Diseases Centre, Alagbado Ilorin.

The GeneXpert tests would enable quicker decisions about whether to quarantine or isolate individuals who show up with or without potential symptoms related to COVID-19, while Hospital management staff will also be able to make rapid decisions about the best way to use resources, such as respiratory equipment.

Dr. Oladiji says certification of the GeneXpert facility by the NCDC will go a long way in the fight against the pandemic in the State.

He says another COVID-19 molecular and research laboratory is proposed at the Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre which will utilise Reverse transcription and PCR in real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Lawrence Afolabi.