AE-FUNAI, NCDC PARTNER TO SCALE UP COVID-19 TESTING FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS
Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) through a non-governmental organization, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), are partnering to scale up the testing of staff and students of the institution for COVID-19.

In view of this, a team of medical experts from Clinton Health Access Initiative were in the University to carry out COVID-19 tests on staff and students. The medical programme which commenced on Wednesday, 3rd March, 2021 and slated to last for 3 days was to strengthen the preventive measures against Corona virus pandemic in the University.


A medical expert collecting a test sample from one of the University’s staff


A memo signed by the Registrar, Odisa C. Okeke (Mrs.) conveying the approval of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunday Elom, for the testing of staff and students for the virus read in part “In line with the directive of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 and NCDC protocol for testing of samples a team of medical experts from the Ministry of Health are in the University for COVID-19 testing.”

She continued: “Consequent upon this, the Vice-Chancellor has approved that all staff and students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State (AE-FUNAI) should avail themselves of sample collection and testing for COVID-19 with the Rapid diagnostic kit which gives out result within 10 – 15 minutes.”


A medical personnel collecting test sample from another staff of the University during the exercise


Speaking during the exercise, the team leader of the medical programme, Adesola Oni – Orisan noted that Clinton Health Access Initiative was a worldwide non-governmental organization geared towards supporting governments in making health accessible to low and middle income countries.

She explained that their organization uses Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits known as Lumira Dx that processes results in 12 minutes for COVID-19 testing, adding that the method helps to make testing more speedy and accessible unlike the PCR that is more expensive, and takes up to 48 hours for the test results to be known.


A group of staff waiting to be tested of COVID-19 at the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Convocation Arena
Oni-Orisan further stated that the testing exercise was done through the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the support of some partners.

During the programme, hundreds of the University staff and students availed themselves of the opportunity to be tested of COVID-19, which has further strengthened the preventive measures employed by the University against the pandemic.

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