The Cross Rivers state government today appealed to the federal government to provide its testing centre with test kits to help it carry out coronavirus test on people. The state Commissioner for Health and Chairman of the Covid-19 Response Task Force, Dr. Betta Edu, made the appeal today during a press briefing.
“We have only 50 sample collection kits for 4.5 million people. How many tests can we produce in a week? We also got 200 personal protective equipment and four body bags. These things are not available. It takes 24 hours to send a test to Irrua and another 24 hours to get the result.
“Nothing has come from the Federal Government. Funding from the Federal Government will be appreciated or they should come and build covid-19 vaccine factory in Cross River to provide jobs for the people. We do not need rice or pasta. The Federal Government should deal with states on a case by case basis. They should come and support Cross River in agriculture for the post-Covid-19 era.”
She said the test has been able to effectively manage the situation in the state. She said there was a high level of sensitisation against the disease in the state when there was no coronavirus case in Africa, adding “Cross River was the first to screen people at the airport when there was no case in Africa and Nigeria. Cross River was the first to shut all its borders and screen people. It was also the first to introduce the use of masks. With all these measures, it is amazing that people are saying Cross River must have a case.”
Photo Credit: Getty
