By Our Correspondent
The Nigeria Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has debunked the presence of COVID variant XEC in the country, saying that there is no evidence to prove its presence.
The minister, who debunked the viral report on Friday, 13th December, 2024, at the commissioning of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Ultra Mega PCR Laboratory, while speaking with journalists said, “As I am talking to you, we have no evidence of that (XEC variant) in Nigeria and have ensured that our surveillance system is up. Our ports of entry are now being more closely monitored to ensure that we’re able to detect quickly if such is going to enter.
“But just like I told the NIMR people, they are very important to ensure that because if we say that those variants are not in Nigeria, it means that we’re able to conclusively test and say that we have not found it anywhere.
“So as I’m talking to you, the variant is not in Nigeria and we hope that our surveillance system, our protection and prevention system can help keep the variant out of the country”.
Speaking on the government preparedness to tackle any disease outbreaks and pandemics, the minister said, “Well, that’s an ongoing conversation. You know, there’s a global agreement that’s under discussion concerning pandemic preparedness. But I think that talking specifically about NIMR, with what I’ve seen today, I think we’re comfortable. When you talk about preparedness, it is not just about testing.
“There are a lot of aspects at the ports and what’s the level of preparedness? Even at the case management level, what’s the level of preparedness? So if I talk about specifically with NIMR, I think that I feel comfortable that NIMR can respond”.
The minister further emphasised the importance of research in the health system and decision-making process of a nation.
According to Salako, the government would continue to support the agency to perform its duty as he described the commissioned PCR machine as an important element in ensuring health security.
He said, “Health security is a critical pillar of our health sector renewal investment initiative. It’s also a global conversation that everybody must be part of because of the dangers of outbreaks and pandemics.
“The experience of COVID has taught us a lot of lessons that we must always be prepared for. NIMR is part of Nigeria’s preparatory machinery to ensure that we secure the health of Nigerians”.
The Nigeria Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has debunked the presence of COVID variant XEC in the country, saying that there is no evidence to prove its presence.
The minister, who debunked the viral report on Friday, 13th December, 2024, at the commissioning of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Ultra Mega PCR Laboratory, while speaking with journalists said, “As I am talking to you, we have no evidence of that (XEC variant) in Nigeria and have ensured that our surveillance system is up. Our ports of entry are now being more closely monitored to ensure that we’re able to detect quickly if such is going to enter.
“But just like I told the NIMR people, they are very important to ensure that because if we say that those variants are not in Nigeria, it means that we’re able to conclusively test and say that we have not found it anywhere.
“So as I’m talking to you, the variant is not in Nigeria and we hope that our surveillance system, our protection and prevention system can help keep the variant out of the country”.
Speaking on the government preparedness to tackle any disease outbreaks and pandemics, the minister said, “Well, that’s an ongoing conversation. You know, there’s a global agreement that’s under discussion concerning pandemic preparedness. But I think that talking specifically about NIMR, with what I’ve seen today, I think we’re comfortable. When you talk about preparedness, it is not just about testing.
“There are a lot of aspects at the ports and what’s the level of preparedness? Even at the case management level, what’s the level of preparedness? So if I talk about specifically with NIMR, I think that I feel comfortable that NIMR can respond”.
The minister further emphasised the importance of research in the health system and decision-making process of a nation.
According to Salako, the government would continue to support the agency to perform its duty as he described the commissioned PCR machine as an important element in ensuring health security.
He said, “Health security is a critical pillar of our health sector renewal investment initiative. It’s also a global conversation that everybody must be part of because of the dangers of outbreaks and pandemics.
“The experience of COVID has taught us a lot of lessons that we must always be prepared for. NIMR is part of Nigeria’s preparatory machinery to ensure that we secure the health of Nigerians”.
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