By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
For its ability to test a large number of Gombe State indigenes for the dreaded Coronavirus (Covid-19) even without having a laboratory situated in the state, the Federal Government has singled out Gombe State Government for praise.
The commendation for Gombe State Government is coming from no less a personality than the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Director General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu who spoke on Thursday on Sunrise Daily programme on Channels Television monitored by Prompt News.
According to him, “the NCDC is very happy with Gombe State Government for the large number of persons it’s testing. In fact, Gombe state must be praised for testing a lot without having a laboratory in the state”.
Dr. Ihekweazu said that the state under the leadership of Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya has excelled in the area of testing many people for Covid-19 just as he has called on other states to emulate Gombe State in this regard.
He also commended the Cross River state government for impressing the NCDC Team sent to the state on a fact- finding trip.
Said he, “I must also commend Cross River state government for its efforts to take action against Covid-19 pandemic. Our team that went there observed that the state is in the right trajectory but they will need support.
We are planning to support Cross River state with equipment and other logistics that will help the state achieve even more successes in the war against Covid-19 pandemic”.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ihekweazu who spoke on the topic: ‘Tackling Covid-19:
Update on our testing protocol’ used the forum to praise the efforts of the frontline health workers especially especially Microbiologists and Virologists for staying the course despite criticisms while working under very tough conditions.
He however promised that NCDC is working hard to protect its workers by ensuring that such materials as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are provided for them.
