The Gombe State Government has concluded arrangement to establish a molecular laboratory for coronavirus (COVID-19) tests.
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya made this known on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 in a broadcast in Gombe, the state capital.
He that the state government has also bought Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines COVID-19 tests.
Yahaya said that the state government was currently engaging the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to obtain accreditation.
He added that the state government, through its task force on COVID-19, bought over N200 million worth of medical supplies and consumables including Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).
He said that the PPEs have been allocated to health care facilities across the state.
“The task force has also prepared three centres for to be used for isolation of COVID-19 patients and a 150-bed capacity hospital in Kwadon.
”The hospital has been fully furnished for management of mild-to-moderate cases.
“A 12-bed capacity Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the State Specialist Hospital has been established and is fully equipped for the management of severe cases including mechanical ventilation and other intensive care needs.
”There is also a 50-bed capacity equipped facility at Federal Teaching Hospital in the state prepared to respond to the coronavirus cases,” he said
The governor noted that so far, all 22 suspected cases sent for testing in an NCDC laboratory in Abuja had returned negative.
‘This suggests that our risk mitigation measures are effective,” Yahaya said.
He directed that the state lockdown and restriction of movement order for 14 days will continue.
He commended members of the state House of Assembly and other political office holders for contributing their one-month salaries to fight against the pandemic.
Yahaya also commended other public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations for their financial and material contributions.
He appealed for more supports from everyone to complement the fight against COVID-19.
He urged the people to continue to abide by the standard protocols issued by the authorities.
By Hajara Leman
