The Anambra State government has initiated aggressive testing of the people for coronavirus aimed at early detection of infections.
The Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba, who disclosed this in Awka, said with the recent commissioning of the first mega laboratory at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, the only lab in the Southeast capable of testing up to 470 samples daily, they are now mobilizing the people more intensely to test for COVID-19.
He also pointed out that they are intensifying community search following Governor Willie Obiano’s establishment of COVID-19 Task Forces in the 21 local government areas of the state, and also in all 326 wards, the first state to do so in Nigeria.
The Information Commissioner further informed that government is training persons to collect samples from suspected patients in all parts of the state and send them quickly to the state teaching hospital in Awka for testing.
Commissioner Adinuba explained that government primary aim for the intensified testing is early detection of infections, noting that if an infection is found out early enough, the chance of successful management would be very very high.
He maintained that contrary to the thinking of a couple of people, COVID-19 is far from a death sentence, saying that they have not lost even a patient whose status was reported to relevant ministries, departments, agencies, task forces or rapid response teams early.
Adinuba said early detection of COVID-19 attacks would enable government doctors and other medical team members treat affected individuals in their homes.
“We have actually managed some cases at home successfully”, the statement revealed, noting that home treatment is in accordance with new protocols in the fight against the pandemic.
He asserted that any person whose case is not critical can be treated in his or her residence if the person so desires.
“This is a good development because one major reason why a large number of people have all along refused to be tested for COVID-19 is the fear of being sent to isolation centres which we call in Anambra State protective care centres; the expression, isolation centre, is capable of depressing or demoralizing patients and consequently worsens their illnesses or conditions”.
Restating that treatment for coronavirus is free, the state government said that it is immediately engaging “stakeholders like religious leaders, traditional rulers, town union leaders, transport operators, hoteliers, market leaders and civil society organization leaders in the determined effort to get our people to embrace testing for COVID-19 in large numbers”.
Adinuba concluded: “Early detection will save infected people in Anambra State the agony of having to use oxygen mask or ventilator to get treated for COVID-19. No one who has ever experienced oxygen mask or ventilator can wish another person to have a similar experience”.
