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- Nigeria, others can screen more people as WHO lists diagnostics for emergency use
The G-Science Academies of Science and Medicine from across the globe, including academies of the G-7 countries have advocated greater international cooperation to contain coronavirus.
The 15 Academies of Sciences and Medicine made the clarification in a joint statement issued by Executive Secretary, Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) and Chair, INGSA-Africa (Science Academies in Africa), Dr. M. Oladoyin Odubanjo.
Among other demands, they canvassed rapid, accurate and transparent international communication about the unfolding epidemiology of the disease, including patterns of transmission, incubation period, its lethal nature and the efficiency of the various intervention methods.
Meanwhile, Nigeria and other countries including the United States (U.S.) could now test more people for COVID-19) as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed the first two diagnostic tests for emergency use during the pandemic.
In a statement yesterday, the WHO said the decision was part of efforts to increase countries’ capacities to test more people for COVID-19 and access to quality-assured, accurate tests for the disease.
The United Nations agency said the move should help increase access to quality-assured, accurate tests for the disease. It also means that the tests can now be supplied by the United Nations and other procurement agencies supporting the COVID-19 response.
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and the Director General (DG) of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had told The Guardian that results from rapid kit tests could not be validated and the country was working to improve its capacity to test more people.
