In April 2020, the Nigerian Government set a target to test two million people in three months by ensuring that 50,000 people were tested in every state.
But in a press briefing, three months later, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said that although the target had not been achieved, it was able to mobilise action towards the objective.
“On testing, our target actually was to test two million by the end of this month. But always remember that the purpose of testing is not necessarily the target itself. The purpose of setting a target is to mobilise action towards that goal.
“When we set that target, we had many states that were resisting testing. Now every state in Nigeria is at least coming forward to test. We have 60 laboratories across the country; we have activated GeneXperts sites. We have 60 sites altogether.
“Yes, we are not yet at that target, but what we have done is mobilize the entire country towards this. The test in itself is not the end – it is a window into a spectrum of both clinical care and public health that is now mobilizing itself across the country to improve the response.
“Yes, we have not met the target collectively because it is a Nigerian target and not an NCDC target, but I think what that target has done is focus our minds on what needs to be done in order to respond to this outbreak,” Ihekweazu said.
As of July 28, data from the NCDC show that 266,323 samples have been tested. Confirmed cases stands at 41,180 and active cases are 22,117. While 18,203 have been discharged, 860 people have died.
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