COVID-19: NCDC to open molecular laboratory at Aso Villa clinic

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is set to activate a molecular laboratory to test for coronavirus at the State House Clinic before the end of the month.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Stakeholders donate Molecular testing facility to FCTA

The Medical Director, State House Clinic, Dr. Munir Yakasai made this announcement on Sunday at a send-off dinner in honour of the immediate past Head of Nursing Department, State House Clinic, Habiba Ahmed, and some outgoing corps members, who served in the clinic.

The State House Deputy Director (Information), Abiodun Oladunjoye, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday titled, ‘COVID-19: State House Permanent Secretary recommends four NYSC members for Director-General’s award’.

According to him, the laboratory, which will increase the number of NCDC-approved molecular laboratories in the country, will also handle urological investigations, among others.

He commended the State House Permanent Secretary, Tijjani Umar, for prioritising the repositioning of the State House Clinic for effective service delivery.

“We now have a special care centre; the dental wing which was moribund for over 10 years has been completed and now functional, drugs are available and staff welfare has greatly improved,” he said.

Meanwhile, Umar has recommended four members of the National Youth Service Corps for the Director-General’s Community Development Service award.

The Permanent Secretary lauded the contributions of the outgoing and serving corps members posted to the State House Clinic in maintaining essential health services amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that the corps members were at the frontline of implementing measures to limit the spread of coronavirus as well as reducing public health risk to workers and visitors to the Presidential Villa.

MTO/Punch