TheCable

Hadiza Balarabe, deputy governor of Kaduna, says the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has promised that the state will soon have a COVID-19 testing centre.

Balarabe spoke on Friday while giving an update on the activities of Kaduna COVID-19 task force.

Nasir el-Rufai, the state governor, had announced that Balarabe would take over the state’s task force after he tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the deputy governor, Amina Baloni, the state commissioner for health, met with NCDC officials last week, “where that commitment was again emphasized’’

She said when talks between the state government and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria are finalised, the general public will be informed accordingly.

Balarabe said the state government has identified a location that will be used as an isolation centre for asymptomatic people.

“As an interim measure, Kaduna State Government is in talks with the Ahmadu Bello University(ABU) Zaria for use of the PCR machine at the African Center for Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases,’’ Balarabe said.

“The States Facility Management Agency has been mandated to quickly renovate and make the identified location conducive and purpose-specific for these categories of individuals.

“However, this is a stop-gap arrangement, pending when a permanent structure is built. To this end, Government will be approaching private donors to support this project so that we can scale up our response to this pandemic.’’

The deputy governor also said government has bought palliatives to be distributed to the vulnerable members of the society.

She added that the state has been receiving donations from well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations and non-governmental organisations.

“Right now, the palliatives have have been sent to some identified local governments in the first instance, for onward distribution to clusters and households. In fact, households will start receiving these palliatives immediately,” she said.

“Although most places of worship remained closed, some clerics defied the law by insisting on holding congregational prayers. The clerics have been duly arrested, arraigned before the court, for onward prosecution.”

According to her, the government has reviewed the situation with security agencies to ramp up enforcement of the restriction of movement in the interest residents.