The interim head of the Oyo State COVID-19 task force, Professor Temitope Alonge, has announced that the state has approved N500 million for the purchase of testing kits.
Alonge, who became the interim head of the task force after Governor Seyi Makinde tested positive for coronavirus disclosed this when he led members of the task force on a tour to ascertain the state of work at the 100-bed infectious disease center, Olodo, Ibadan on Wednesday.
While speaking after the tour, the former Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan who acknowledged the dearth of testing kits at the two diagnostic centers in the State announced that the state government has approved N500 million for the purchase of testing kits to equip the testing centers in the State.
According to him, once the newly ordered testing kits arrive, the centers would be able to conduct 20 tests per day.
Another member of the task force, Mr. Akinola Ojo who is the commissioner for finance, disclosed that the state has received N100 million from well-meaning Nigerians to support the fight against coronavirus, a pandemic that has brought various human activities to a halt globally.
Even though the commissioner refused to state the name of the individuals who donated into the account while speaking, he noted that the name of the donors will be uploaded on the state government website by end of the week.
He added that the state had also set up a COVID endowment fund where it expects more financial support from good spirited Nigerians to support the efforts of the Government.
At the time of writing this report, the total number of confirmed cases by the NCDC in the country is now 174 with two deaths.
The index case in Oyo – the pacesetter State stands at eight.
