Bauchi To Establish COVID-19 Testing Centre Soon – Dep. Gov. Assures
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The Bauchi State Government on Monday unveiled its plans for the immediate establishment of a COVID-19 testing center in the state.
The State Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela, who made public the plan while briefing journalists on the update of COVID-19 in the state held at the Government House, Bauchi, said the establishment of the center will ensure prompt and timely testing of suspected index cases of the virus.
Tela, who is also the Chairman of the State Rapid Response Taskforce on COVID-19 and Lassa Fever, explained that establishment of the centre would reduce the difficulties usually faced before accessing tests to coronovirus in Abuja.
He said; “If this is actualized, we can conduct our tests in Bauchi easily without any hitches.
“The state government is working assiduously in close collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the actualization of the establishment of the testing center for Coronovirus in the state.”
On the closure of entry points to the state in order to check the spread of the infection, Tela expressed concern over the non-compliance of the closure of borders, saying that the measure is to maintain sanity in the management of the virus.
The Deputy Governor said the state has received donations N2. 5 million in addition to food items of about N1.5 million from an NGO based in the state, adding that civil servants in the state have pledged to contribute from their salaries for 3 months (April, May and June) to compliment the efforts of the state government in tackling the spread of the virus.
He said that Permanent Secretaries donated 10 percent, Directors in the state and local government areas are contributing 5 percent while other categories of the civil servants on grade levels 1-12 are contributing 2 percent.
Commenting on a trending story that Governor Bala Mohammed has tested negative to COVID-19 infection, Tela said that the government is still awaiting the results from the NCDC.
He said that, “I don’t know where they got their information from, as far as we are concerned, the Governor is doing well and responding to treatment. In fact, he participated in the recent NGF forum through teleconference and also spoke to the people of Bauchi State through Skype.”
