From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The President of Aliko Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote on Sunday presented a 400 per day capacity Mobile Test Laboratory to Kano state government, as part of his contributions in fighting Corona Virus.
Dangote who was represented by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, said that
Mobile Test Laboratory installed at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital Will soon be upgraded to 1000 samples per day capacity.
Other items donated by the philanthropist include 10 Ambulances and three official vehicles as part of corporate support to strengthen the war against the ravaging Corona Virus pandemic in Kano.
Youssoufou, added that the foundation is directly supporting the Nigerian government’s COVID-19 containment efforts in Kano State.
She further stated that the gesture was a philanthropic endeavour of Aliko Dangote to direct a molecular diagnostic firm specialized inresearch and diagnosis, based in Lagos, to as a matter of urgency set up a 1000 Test per day capacity in Kano state.
She pledged of the Foundation’s commitment to reduce the number of lives lost to diseases, such as COVID-19, Ebola and other deadly viruses in the State, adding that the foundation would not relent in using its investments in health, education, and economic empowerment to help lift people out of sickness and
poverty.
“We are supporting training and incentives for covid-19 health workers. We will provide hazard incentives and protections for the healthcare and lab workers who are working on the covid-19 response.
“We are also providing training to them, initially online and via distance learning, and will complement his with in-person training in Kano under strict IPC protocols developed in conjunction with the NCDC.
“Aliko Dangote Foundation will continue to provide PPEs to the Kano State Covid-19 Taskforce, which will then be distributed to the hospitals as appropriate. Items already supplied include coveralls, gloves, masks, respirators, goggles, boots and sanitizers.
“We are expanding the CACOVID communications strategy in Kano by adding more communications and advocacy around Covid-19 prevention across radio, TV and traditional and community leaders,” she added.
Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje commended Aliko Dangote Foundation for the kind gesture.
He stated that, “there’s no doubt we started on a shaky foundation, with assistance of ADF, we can see that a friend in deed is a friend in need. We are very grateful for the mobile testing Centre which will launch with 400 samples per day and after a week, increase to 1,000
tests per day.
“It is now left for us to intensify efforts to collect samples. We will ensure that all that 44 Local Government Council have collection centres. Here in the metropolitan local government, we will have 100 of collection centres because this is where the majority of the population is.”
He added that the state has intensify efforts to create awareness about the reality of Corona Virus.
