UNICEF, IHS Donate 115,800 Test kits To Support Nigeria’s Fight Against COVID-19

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has received delivery of 115,800 IHS-funded COVID-19 test kits to support the fight against the pandemic in Nigeria.

This effort, according to the parties, is aim at deepening the nation’s capacity to ramp up testing, as testing remains the mainstay of the response led by the Presidential Task Force and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

It is also the first step towards diagnosing the infection.

“Tests enable health officials to understand the COVID-19 status of an individual and link that person to care, support and treatment while contributing to the protection of families and communities”.

The Director General, National Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu who received the supplies on behalf of the government in Abuja, noted that the primary goal of the government is to control the spread of the disease, adding that testing remains a core strategy of Nigeria’s response to COVID-19.

“ This is critical for understanding the burden of the disease on our population and targeting our response activities accordingly.

“This donation from IHS Nigeria through UNICEF will contribute to the national stockpile of test kits managed by NCDC, and support efforts of the growing network of accredited laboratories across the country for the testing of COVID-19. We are grateful for the continued support from UNICEF, IHS Towers and other partners.”

UNICEF Country Representative, Peter Hawkins in his remark siad, “UNICEF is delighted to receive this huge contribution from IHS Towers, the benefit of which will reach many more children and their families.

“UNICEF is deeply appreciative of IHS Towers’ commitment in the fight against COVID -19 in Nigeria. IHS has shown great generosity in supporting government’s agenda through partnering with UNICEF”.

Hawkins, speaking further commended the IHS Towers for being a strong and continuing partner of UNICEF.
“At the onset of the coronavirus in Nigeria in late February, IHS Nigeria provided funding to UNICEF to urgently procure essential supplies and equipment with which UNICEF supported the Government of Nigeria in its COVID-19 response.

“This recent support of essential tests makes IHS Towers the biggest private sector donor for UNICEF Nigeria’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic”

The Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria, Mohamad Darwish said, “We are proud to have played an important role in supporting the Government and our communities where we operate to provide crucial tools needed to fight this pandemic.

“We understand this virus is here to stay for the foreseeable future, but are confident that with our support, and that of our other private sector colleagues, we are helping to manage and mitigate the impact of the virus in our country”.