Anambra Govt receives COVID-19 Biosafety Machine
Gov. Willie Obiano
US- based interventional cardiologist, Leo Egbujiobi has, donated a biosafety level 2 cabinet machine for the testing of coronavirus patients in Anambra State.
Secretary to Anambra State Government(SSG), Solo Chukwulobelu, on behalf of Governor Obiano, received the equipment worth millions of naira at Jerome Udorji Secretariat in Awka.
He noted that Ndi Anambra in Diaspora have been very supportive in the fight against COVID-19 in the state and appreciated Dr. Egbujiobi and his wife, Dr. Bridget Egbujiobi for thinking home and donating such an equipment worth millions of naira to the state.
According to him, the state has activated COVID-19 testing lab at Amaku Centre while noting that the Biosafety machine will as well support the testing.
Commissioner for Health, Vincent Okpala said that the Biosafety level 2 Cabinet will be used for activation of Genexpert site at General Hospital Onitsha for COVID-19 testing.
This Biosafety cabinet is an enclosed, ventilated laboratory workspace for safely working with materials contaminated with or potentially contaminated with pathogens requiring a defined Biosafety level.
“What this piece of equipment does is to help get us ready, in order to start doing COVID-19 testing on our Genexpert platform. We have 9 Genexpert sites in the state and General Hospital Onitsha is one of the places.
“So it is a requirement that for you to utilise that lab, you need this machine. It is one thing that guarantees nobody in the lab is suffering an infection.
Dr Okpala described Dr Egbujiobi as a good-hearted philanthropist and one of the foremost interventional cardiologist practicing in Wisconsin, US and an illustrious son of the state from Okija.
Dr. Egbujiobi while making the presentation through a representative, Mr Chukwudi Okonkwo said that he was satisfied with efforts and measures installed by government in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the state. He stressed that the donation was to encourage, compliment and support the government in the state.
