State governments have declared mass testing for COVID-19 in the wake of the new Omicron variant. They also promised that the number of tests would be increased after Omicron was detected in the country with samples dating back to October before the variant was reported to the World Health Organisation.
Top government officials in Cross River, Benue, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states, however, complained that funding was a major problem that hindered the progress of mas testing, as reported by The PUNCH.
“In Akwa Ibom State, we never stopped community testing,” said Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Health Professor Augustine Umoh. “What we probably need to do is to ramp up testing.
“The challenge to any activity is funding especially in the light of the reality of limited resources. More consumables would be needed and the people re-awakened to the reality of COVID-19.”
The Ondo State Government, on the other hand, reported that an alarm over the wave of the new variant was unnecessary. A State Epidemiologist and member of the state Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19, Dr Stephen Fagbemi, said that an abundant amount of kits and vaccines were available for the people in Ondo.
“Testing has not been stopped in Ondo State and we also not intend to stop vaccination because unless you vaccinate people, they can never be protected,” said Mr Fagbemi. “The kits are available, the test is free of charge and the vaccination is still available free of charge.”
