The United State Agency for International Development (USAID) and the KNCV TB Foundation, Nigeria have donated GeneXpert machine to the Kaduna State government to boost Covid-19 testing and response in the state.

The technology, which is operationalized in a mobile truck known as Wellness on Wheel (WoW), can be moved to communities to improve testing for tuberculosis and COVID-19.

State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who received the machine yesterday in Kaduna, threatened that he may be forced to lock down the state again if the level of compliance to the protocols of the ease of restrictions by religious bodies is not adhered to.

El-Rufai noted that the state is reviewing the result of last weekend’s compliance level at places of worship and based on the result of compliance as well as the rate of infection, the state may be locked down again.

Earlier, Executive Director of KNCV TB Foundation, Nigeria, Bethrand Odume, said the machine is the first mobile testing van in Nigeria, which can perform the dual purpose of testing COVID-19 and Tuberculosis.