Dangote donates mobile laboratory for testing COVID-19 to Kano
Renowned business mogul, Alhaji Aliki Dangote, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation in partnership with 54gene, on Sunday, donated mobile laboratory for the testing of coronavirus samples to the Kano state government.
The representative of the foundation, Zouerra Yousufu, who presented the equipment, said the donation was to compliment government’s efforts in fighting the pandemic ravaging the entire world.
She said: “This centre with 400 testing capacity, we are planning by next week to commence testing of about 1,000 samples and every logistic issues related to the laboratory, Dangote Foundation will handle it.
“The laboratory which was conceived by a Nigerian and in Nigeria, is aimed at speeding the testing of COVID-19 samples in the state.
“Looking at the population of Kano, more mobile laboratories are coming, and we assure you that the foundation will continue to support the fight against the pandemic in the state and Nigeria in general.”
On his part, Kano state Governor Abdullahi Ganduje commended the foundation for the gesture, saying that it came at a time the state is in trouble over the issue of COVID-19, especially in the area of testing centres.
“So far, we have three testing centres in the state, that of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Bayero University and now the one donated by Dangote.
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“With these centres, our work in fighting the pandemic will be more easier. I have to commend the efforts of President Muhammad Buhari for ensuring the reactivation of the NCDC centre after it was shut down a week back,” the governor added.
He further said that with the three testing centres, the prevalence of the disease will be controlled, commending the people of Kano for gradually believing the truth about the disease.
Also speaking, the NCDC Director General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu. commended the state government’s efforts in fighting the pandemic in the state.
He assured that the agency would continue to work with the government towards controlling the spread of the disease in Kano and the country in general.
