General
Nigeria has developed COVID-19 testing kit, says FG
The Federal Government on Thursday announced the indigenous development and validation of RNA-Swift, a test kit for the identification of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19.
It said the move was to accelerate the capacity to test people and help effectively manage the coronavirus pandemic.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, announced this during a press conference in Abuja.
He said:
“The RNA-Swift has amazing precision for the detection of SARS-COV-2 and will be commercially available at a price that places it ahead of competitors in terms of sensitivity and affordability.”
The minister told reporters that in the coming months, five million farmers would be tested with the RNA-Swift kits from the first 10 million kits to be produced.
“I want to confirm to you that the RNA-Swift product team is in consultation with the African Development Bank for the funding of an African-wide testing programme for COVID-19 and the establishment for RNA-Swift production in Nigeria,” he stated.
The PUNCH
-
News24 hours ago
Boat mishap: CILT demands stakeholders’ collaboration for waterways safety
-
News20 hours ago
Active WWII bomb discovered near German stadium
-
Metro23 hours ago
Insecurity: Plateau community seeks ban of bandits-friendly bikes
-
health9 hours ago
UK pledges £1b to support Nigeria’s fight against malaria
-
Economy9 hours ago
Good tax system will attract foreign investment – CITN
-
Metro9 hours ago
Police foil kidnapping attempt, rescue three victims in Bauchi
-
News9 hours ago
Tinubu mourns Enugu senator Ayogu Eze
-
News10 hours ago
Anambra lawmaker raises alarm over cult-related deaths in Awka