Khadijat Saidu, Birnin kebbi
In an effort to mitigate the impact of covid-19 pandemic in the state, Kebbi State Government has trained health personnel to ramp up sample testing of Covid- 19 to 9,450 across the 21 local government areas of the state within two weeks.
The State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Ja’afar Muhammad, made this known during a ramp -up testing of covid-19 state level training for 21 LGA health personnel in Birnin Kebbi.
Jafar explain that the state level training of ramp up test in the state is aimed at mitigating the impact of the covid-19 pandemic. Adding that the ramp up sample collection, and equally laboratory testing will enable the government to seal up with its testing in various local government areas of the state.
Muhammad also said the state government was requested by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to have, at least, minimum of 450 sample from each of the 21 LGAs of the state in the ramp up testing program.
“The program is going to take place within two weeks so that it will enable us to collect sample and test the sample.” this he said will enable them have an indication on the spread or transmission of covid-19 generally in the state.
The Commissioner urged participants from each of the 21 LGAs to pay attention and use the training in order to meet up with the required anticipated objective of having the minimum of 9,450 testing in the state.
In his presentation on the update of covid-19 cases in the state, the Director Public Health, State Ministry of Health, Alhaji Bagudu Muhammad said Kebbi State, which had a population of 4,864,567, had so far recorded 4,397 cases, with 306 positive cases, and the positivity rate is 8.7 per cent; and the total death is 13, while fatality rate is 4.6 per cent,” he added.
In his Remarks at the program, Dr. Aminu Bunza, the Chief Medical Director of Sir Yahyah Memorial Hospital, urged the people of the state to adhere to proper hygiene and observe covid-19 protocols.
“There are 509 different types of covid-19 variants in the world, since hospitals in Nigeria lack the capacity to treat sick patients with covid-19, the only way to curb the disease is to ensure proper protection,” Bunza added.