The Aliko Dangote Foundation has donated a mobile molecular laboratory for the testing of coronavirus (COVID-19) to the Kano State Government.
Zouerra Yousufu, the representative of the Foundation, presented the facility and other equipment to the state government on Sunday in Kano.
Yousufu disclosed that the centre was designed with 400 daily sample capacity, adding that 10 ambulances and six other vehicles were also donated to the state to ease movement and enhance referral.
“The centre has a 400 testing capacity; we are planning to commence testing of about 1,000 samples from next week. The Dangote Foundation will handle every issue related to the facility.
“The laboratory, which was conceived by a Nigerian, will speed up the testing of the COVID-19 samples in the state.
“In view of the population of Kano, more mobile laboratories are coming; we assure you that the foundation will continue to support the fight against the pandemic in the stare and Nigeria in general,” she said.
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, while thanking the Foundation for the gesture, said that it came at the right time when the state was working to address some of the constraints affecting laboratory testing of the pandemic in the state.
Ganduje said that the state had existing centres established by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) ànd Bayero University Kano, adding that with the coming on board of the mobile centre donated by Dangote Foundation, the state would boost its testing capacity.
“With these centres, our work in fighting the pandemic will be easier.
“I have to commend President Muhammad Buhari for ensuring the reactivation of the NCDC centre after it was shut down in the past week,” he said.
According to him, the mobile test centre will be located at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyu.
Ganduje urged the people to support the government to contain the pandemic by adhering to medical advice and precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Also speaking, the NCDC Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, commended the state government’s effort in the fight against the pandemic.
He reiterated the commitment of the agency to work with state governments to control the spread of the disease in Kano and the country in general.
