By Hassan Zaggi
In an effort to reduce the financial burden Nigerians face in trying to get COVID-19 test before travelling outside or returning into the country, Nigerian researchers in partnership with their American counterparts, have introduced what they christened COVID-19 Antigen Detection Rapid Test kits.
While disclosing this to journalists in Abuja, Wednesday, a Nigerian-born US –based researcher, Bob Udeagha, said that the test kits will be sold to Nigerians at a price far below the amount they normally pay when testing for COVID-19 at the point of going out and returning into the country.
According to him: “Through our team of researchers and partnership, with another American company, Nigerians will soon be able to have access to COVID-19 Antigen Detection Rapid Test kits at very affordable prices.
“The Federal Ministry of health (FMOH) is fully aware of our organization and we have been partnering with them since 2005.
“We have seen and experienced the financial burden placed on many Nigerians especially those traveling outside of the country and those returning home due to the high cost of taking COVID-19 test which is available in many parts of the world free of charge.
“To address this issue, our team of researchers believe that many Nigerians are soon going to benefit from this research and partnership that has produced locally manufactured COVID-19 Antigen detection Rapid Test.
“As we work assiduously to actualize this goal for the good of our dear country, we pray for your stanch support.”
Udeagha who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Bundi International Diagnostics, also revealed that the Nigerian researchers have also partnered with their US-based counterparts to come up with a device that, according to him, provides continuous and proactive surface and air disinfection for all indoors spaces.
This Device, he said, “has been tested and proven to purify surfaces and protect us (while indoors) from the harmful gases/smoke, pathogens, odours and volatile organic compounds, including the SARS-COV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19).”
This device, he stressed, is the technology that will assist Nigerians purify and deliver good quality air in all indoor spaces, noting that it will help people get back to public assembly.
Explaining how the technology works, the expert said: “This Air purifier’s patented solution first creates protective molecules that actively combat airborne and surface pathogens.
“These molecules are created continuously to fill indoor spaces where they seek out and destroy any pathogens that enter including the virus that causes COVID-19; it does not wait for the pathogens to come to us it goes after it and neutralize it.”
