Stanbic IBTC donates COVID- 19 test kits to Lagos
STANBICIBTC Holdings PLC has strengthened its support for the government’s fight against the COVID- 19 pandemic with the donation of test kits to the Lagos State government.
The kits were presented to the government at the Lagos State Biobank, Mainland Hospital, Yaba, on Tuesday. Dr Demola Sogunle, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, said during the presentation that as the coronavirus entered the community transmission stage, it became expedient to increase tests, hence the timeliness of the donation of the test kits. He reiterated the importance of supporting the state government’s testing capacity, considering the upsurge in the number of confirmed cases in the state.
He said: “Lagos has recorded the highest number of confirmed cases in Nigeria since the outbreak of the virus. Being the most susceptible city in the country, we must not relent in our efforts to help in identifying those who have been infected so that proper treatment can be administered to them. “Proper testing precedes treatment and the requisite treatment and care saves lives. We have made various contributions towards fighting the pandemic, and we also deem it necessary to support the government in the area of testing. All hands must continue to be on deck until the virus is finally defeated.”
The representative of the state government, Dr Ismail Abdus- Salam, Director Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health & Incident Manager, COVID- 19 Response, expressed gratitude on the donation of the test kits.
He said: “The fight against COVID- 19 is a joint responsibility and working together to defeat this common enemy is the most potent way of overcoming this pandemic. We are delighted that a leading financial institution like Stanbic IBTC recognises this and has continuously supported the government in this cause.” Dr. Abdus- Salam further said that the kits would boost the state’s testing capacity, thereby leading to early detection and proper care and treatment for those found to have been infected.