A cardiologist based in the US, Dr. Leo Egbujiobi has donated a biosafety level 2 cabinet machine for the testing of coronavirus patients to Anambra state Government.
The equipment was received by the Secretary to Anambra State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, who represented Governor Willie Obiano at the official handover of the equipment worth millions of naira at Jerome Udorji Secretariat in Awka.
Governor Obiano in his remarks noted that Ndi Anambra in Diaspora has been very supportive in the fight against COVID-19 in the state, appreciating the donor, Dr. Egbujiobi and his wife Dr. Bridget Egbujiobi for thinking home and donating such equipment to the state.
He noted that the state has activated a mega PCR COVID-19 testing Lab at Amaku Centre while noting that the Biosafety machine will as well support the testing.
“The mega PCR laboratory is equipped with five Abbot M2000 platforms, a sophisticated machine that has the ability to run 94 tests per cycle.
“When fully optimized, one can get five cycles done in 24hrs. This will translate to 470 tests by a machine per day. If one were to dedicate the five machines to COVID-19 testing, one will hit 2,350 tests per day. This is the first time it will be used in the entire country for COVID-19 test”, he said.
On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala said 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.
Dr Okpala described Dr Egbujiobi as a good-hearted philanthropist and one of the foremost Interventional cardiologist practising in Wisconsin, US and an illustrious son of the state from Okija.
Earlier, Dr. Egbujiobi while making the presentation through a representative, Mr Chukwudi Okonkwo said that he was satisfied with efforts and measures put in place by the 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.
