By Peterson Ibi
Efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease in Edo state has received a boost, following the approval of the Testing Centre of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The cheering announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Head, Public Relations Unit of the Hospital, Joshua Uwaila.
The statement noted that the achievement was made possible by the collaboration between the Hospital and the Centre for Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation ( CERHI), of the University of Benin.
Accordingto the statement, “The collaboration, which was initiated by the Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof Darlington Obaseki, provides access to the use of the Centre’s Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine for COVID-19 testing.
“With this new development, testing for COVID-19 for UBTH patients has become more efficient as travelling cost and time in handling test specimens have now been eliminated. This achievement adds traction to the fight against COVID-19 in Edo State.”
Edo state Governor, Mr.
Godwin Obaseki, has expressed satisfaction with the collaborative effort by the management of UBTH with the state government, in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Obaseki disclosed this last Thursday, when he paid a visit to the UBTH Isolation Centre.
The Governor, who was taken on a guided tour of UBTH Testing Centre among other facilities, by the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Prof. Darlington Obaseki, expressed confidence that the Hospital will continue to provide quality healthcare to all its patients and clients.
A group of concerned citizens in Benin also charged people going for screening to provide correct information about themselves to concerned authorities, to enable them get proper diagnosis.
Spokesman of the group, Peter Audubon, while giving out food items and beverages to some vulnerable persons, as palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown imposed to check the spread of the rampaging disease.
He urged every Nigerian, irrespective of status, to observe the social distancing policy and prohibition of public gatherings of more than 20 persons.
According to him, “It is important that people always provide correct information to the authorities, particularly the medical personnel as this will help them.
“Above all, we must follow all directives from the NCDC and government as a means to curtailing the pandemic.
“As family men, we thought it will be nice to reach out to the most needy and vulnerable in our community, particularly in this time of need.”
The group also called governments at all level to synergies with other stakeholders, with a view to bringing a speedy end to Covid-19.
“We want to also acknowledge those in the front line of this fight against an invisible enemy and calls for synergy between all concerned as we find cure to this virus,” the group added.