Imo Records Medical/Scientific Breakthrough, As Eze Ohiri Manufactures COVID-19 Rapid Test Kit

The Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM, Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri who is an American trained Medical Scientist has manufactured a rapid Test Kit for the global ravaging Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Eze Ohiri achieved the medical cum scientific break-through at his factory, Hi-Tech Diagnostics Ltd situated at Obi-Orodo in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State.

Briefing Journalists on Thursday at his Palace in Obi-Orodo, Eze Ohiri stated that his organization worked very hard to develop the test kit since early March, 2020 in a  bid to contribute to the efforts of both Federal and State governments in the fight against the Coronavirus  (COVID-19 ) disease.

The Royal father noted that the test kit would detect  IgG and IgM antibodies to COVID-19 in human blood samples within five (5) minutes, adding that the test kit does not require any special equipment, but can be performed in hospitals, Clinics and Laboratories.

On the benefits of the test kits, Eze Imo as he is popularly called  hoped that it will increase the Country’s capacity to test more Nigerians towards discovering their COVID-19 status.

He also used the opportunity to
commend the Federal and State Governments in the Country, especially the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma on the efforts they are making to properly manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eze Ohiri who is also the South East Coordinator, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria pointed out that a batch of the COVID-19 Rapid Test Kit produced in his Factory has been sent to Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria working in-collaboration with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Federal Ministry of Health, for validation.

He further stated that the Rapid Test Kit would be made available to health care workers and facilities after it has gone through the required validation.

It would be recalled that HRM Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri was recently inducted as a Fellow of the Prestigious West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science, an honour bestowed on him in recognition of his contributions to the growth of Medical Science in Africa, being the first African Scientist to develop and manufacture Test Kits for the detection of HIV Virus in human blood.
The production of a Rapid Test Kit for COVID-19 will no doubt bring more accolades to His Majesty, Eze Imo.