Abia State Government has assured members of the Association of 
that it will not be left out in getting the cartridges being imported by the Federal goverment which would enable the Association modify machines for Coronavirus test in the State.
Secretary to Abia State Government, Barr. Chris Ezem gave this assurance in his office in Umuahia while receiving bottles of hand sanitizers produced by members of the
Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria to the State Government.
He restated that the State would take steps to ensure the equipment the State has is modified to suit what is needed by the Association to get the test laboratory which would be of great assistance to the State now and beyond the COVID 19 period.
Barr. Ezem said Abia State will give necessary support to ensure the Association actualizes its desires and assured that the State Commissioner for Health would reach out to them to know how the equipment available could be modified to suit what they have in mind about the laboratory test centre.
He expressed happiness that the group did not only demonstrate social responsibility but has shown desire to change the narrative in the medical sub sector of the State and commended them for keying into the initiative of the State government towards cushioning the negative effects of Covid-19 pandemic in the State.
Earlier while presenting the hand-sanitizers, the Chairman, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter, Dr. Okezie Okamgba disclosed that the Association has experienced man power who can run diagnosis including that of Coronavirus but requested goverment to get the Corona cartridges as being imported by the Federal government.
He assured that with the cartridges, they can modify the existing two PolyMast machines and genexpert machines and create a test centre in Abia, saying it would reduce time and risk of taking samples to other States for testing.
He said the Association came to show solidarity to the State government on the fight against Covid 19 by presenting bottles of high quality hand-sanitizers produced by the Association.
He said that the hand-sanitizers prepared by the Association were produced in adherence with World Health Organizations’ standard adding that some sanitizers in the market today are not potent.
He expressed their desire to produce more if government needs the quality hand Sanitizers.
