The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state has the capacity to conduct 600 Coronavirus tests daily.
He said there are three additional Real Time-PCR Molecular Reference Laboratory operational in the state to carry out the tests.
The governor who disclosed this at the weekend, urged stakeholders and residents to support the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic.
“In our COVID-19 response, we provided funding and platform for the set up of three additional Real Time-PCR Molecular Reference Laboratory in Edo State, with a daily testing capacity of 600 test per day at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, (ISTH), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), and Edo Specialist Hospital and Lily Hospital.”
“There is also a massive procurement of laboratory commodities, personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, dialysis machines, PCR reagents, vehicles, etc. essential for supporting Covid-19 response in the state,” he said.
According to him, the state has also strengthened collaboration with institutions, organizations and groups within and outside the state to harness support for COVID-19.
Obaseki noted that efforts have been galvanized to build capacity and skills of Edo State health workforce through regular training and retraining with over 5000 health care workers drawn from public and private institutions trained across the state.
He added that the state government has also put in place a highly coordinated surveillance system across the 18 local governments of the state.
