Kano State government yesterday disclosed that is has so far set up nine COVID-19 sample collection centres to enhance detection and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coordinator, COVID-19 Technical Response Team, Dr. Tijjani Hussaini who made this known in an interview with newsmen said eight of the centres were set up in the Kano metropolis while one other was established in Rano Local Government Area of the state.
“Ten more sample collection centres will soon be put in place, bringing the number to 19 in the state.
“We are also engaging voluntary mobilisers in the local government areas to enhance active case search at the grassroots.
‘The plan is to set up one sample collection centre in each of the 44 LGAs,” he explained.
Speaking further, Hussaini said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has opened three functional molecular laboratories adding that the Dangote Foundation and ’54gene’ donated a mobile laboratory at the Muhammadu Buhari Hospital, Giginyu.
”The laboratories have a 650 test capacity per day while plans are underway to increase the capacity to between 1, 300 and 1, 500 per day.
According to the Coordinator, the state government had trained health workers on Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC), to protect them against contracting the COVID-19.
“Some of the infection recorded among health workers is linked to lack of knowledge on how to protect themselves against infections.
“We have quickly turned around the tide and the health workers in isolation discharged,” he said.
On the number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19, Hussaini said that most of the cases were recorded in the Kano metropolis while 31 LGAs recorded at least one case of the virus.
He added that state government in collaboration with development partners had scaled up the campaign to create awareness on the COVID-19 pandemic.
It would be recalled that the Kano State Ministry of Health confirmed 923 COVID-19 cases and 751 active cases.
The Ministry said 134 were discharged and the state recorded 38 deaths, as at May 26.
