By Brave Dickson
As the threat of coronavirus continues to loom across the globe, some diagnostic experts have said Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has not done the right thing in the diagnostic sector.
One of the lab scientists who is in charge of St Maureen’s Diagnostic Labouratory, Port Harcourt, Pastor Gift John Diepriye told our correspondent that :”The news about the coronavirus is very bad and it calls for serious health concern because the disease is highly contagious.
“I know that the state government has tried in putting up surveillance team through the ministry of health.
“Talking about the diagnostic aspect of it, the state government has not done well.
“It is not enough to set up teams that will look at suspected cases.
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“The question is, what if we have a positive case? How do we know it is positive via the diagnostic end of it?
“That is where, I think the state government has not done well and if this deadly disease, God forbid happened to hit the state hard, the casualties will be too disastrous.
“While the state government is setting up a surveillance team, it should equip the state research hospital to be able to combat any eventual outbreak.
“Diagnostic wise, the state government has not tried because if you look at our health centres that are littered all over the state, how many of them are properly equipped?
“So, every minor case that comes, they run to the state teaching hospital and the state teaching hospital, as I speak to you now is overcrowded which ought not to be so.
“This government can only be seen to be well prepared if it equips all the state health facilities with modern diagnostic equipment and carries out routine training and retraining of diagnostic personnel.”
