Nigeria Now Has Capacity To Test For Coronavirus — NCDC Reveals

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says it has successfully validated the capacity to test for the novel coronavirus in Nigeria at its  National Reference Laboratory.

Disclosing this in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said samples from patients that meet the national case definition for coronavirus can now be confirmed in-country.

“On the 1st of February, we validated our capacity to test for the novel coronavirus at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, NRL. This means that we are now able to test samples from patients that meet the national case definition of the novel coronavirus here in Nigeria.”

Speaking on NTA News Now programme, Ihekweazu said the NCDC was unrelenting in efforts to protect Nigerians from the spread of infectious diseases.

“In strengthening our surveillance and preparedness for the novel coronavirus, we’ve put in place significant measures. We‘ve agreed to an initial national case definition to identify suspect cases. We‘ll review these criteria as additional information on nCoV2019 becomes available.”

He noted that the Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health is on high alert and has heightened screening measures at various points of entry including temperature checks, combined with investigative questions on known symptoms.

“We have also initiated a multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group. Led by the NCDC. This group meets daily to assess the risk of importation of the disease to Nigeria.