Bayero University Kano, BUK, is set to establish a testing center for COVID-19 that would serve Kano State and its environs.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Muhammad Yahuza, dropped the hint while briefing the Kano State Task Force on COVID-19 on Saturday.
Mr Yahuza disclosed that the university had spent over N50 million for the establishment of the center.
According to him, the university would use the facility of the university’s Center for Infectious Diseases, adding that the money set aside would be used to purchase more equipment.
He disclosed that some useful equipment from other units in the institution had also been moved to the center which, according to him.
Mr Yahuza added that the centre would become operational in two weeks’ time.
He also disclosed that the center, if established, would have the capacity of testing 100 samples per day,
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Kano State Taskforce on COVID-19 and the Deputy Governor of the state, Nasiru Gawuna, urged the general public to avoid stigmatizing infected persons.
According to him, “the stigmatizing would only aggravate the condition of the patients. So, I call on the general public to stop this attitude”.
Mr Gawuna also hinted that the state government was mulling the idea of making face masks compulsory for the state residents.
He disclosed that the committee had submitted a proposal to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for approval, adding that once it is approved, the government would procure millions of “reusable” face masks for distribution to the general public.
