By Lucky Isibor,
The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City has commenced testing for COVID-19 following the validation of its Testing Centre by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The validation was yesterday announced by NCDC and echoed by the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Patrick Okundia.
This achievement was made possible by the collaboration between UBTH and the Centre for Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI), University of Benin. The collaboration, initiated by the UBTH Chief Medical Director, Prof Darlington Obaseki, include access to the use of the centre’s Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine for COVID-19 testing.
This feat by the tertiary health institution was made known to news men in a release by the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Joshua Uwaila Esq.
According to him,”with this new development, testing for COVID-19 for UBTH patients has become more efficient in terms of cost saving and time in handling test specimens.This achievement adds traction to the fight against COVID-19 in Edo State.”
His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki had paid a visit to the UBTH Isolation Centre penultimate Thursday where he was also taken on a guided tour of UBTH Testing Centre among other facilities.
The Governor on that visit had stated that he was impressed with the Management of the hospital especially the collaboration with the State Government in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CMD of UBTH promised to continue to provide quality healthcare to all its patients and clients.
The NCDC has announced the inclusion of three new laboratories in its molecular laboratory network for Covid-19 testing.
The new laboratories are University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (Satellite Lab), Port Harcourt and University of Benin Teaching Hospital, PCR Laboratory, Benin City.
According to NCDC, “this brings the number of labs in Nigeria with the capacity to test for COVID-19 to 23.”
