BY Femi Owolabi
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Lagos has announced that it will start free tests for COVID-19 on Monday.
TheCable had reported that only 178 persons had been tested for COVID-19 in the country as of March 24, according to data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The data shows that between 10 and 20 persons on the average are tested in the country daily since the first case in February, far below the figure obtainable in other countries. This means not enough people are being tested in Nigeria.
In a tweet, Babatunde Salako, director-general of NIMR, said the exercise will start on Monday and that those who feel the need to get tested should book an appointment with the institute.
“The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research begins free screening for COVID-19 on Monday 30 March, 2020. Kindly visit our Website for appointment if you fall into categories of those who need the test, especially if you have come in contact with suspected case,” he wrote on Twitter.
Salako added that to be eligible for a test, an individual must have a history of travel outside of Nigeria and has fever, cough or difficulty breathing within 14 days of arrival, or anyone who comes in contact with a confirmed case who shows these symptoms within 14 days of contact.
An appointment can be booked via a form made available here.
Earlier, the federal ministry of health said it now has six functional laboratories with the capacity to test for #COVID19, which includes the NIMR.
“We are working to expand testing capacity. @WHO has supported through the training of medical personnels,” the ministry tweeted.
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