COVID-19: Virology Dept Affirms Oyo Govt’s support

The Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, on Thursday, affirmed the support of the Oyo State government to the COVID-19 Laboratory in the Department, noting that to date, the Virology Department has been supported by the state to the tune of N86.9 million.

A letter affirming the support, which was signed by Professor of Virology, Prof. David O. Olaleye, affirmed the receipt of various levels of support to the tune of $200,000 (N86.9m).

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, affirmed that the Department was appreciative of the support of Oyo State government in the COVID-19 containment efforts.

The statement also indicated that besides the support extended to the Department of Virology, which is being acknowledged by the Department, the state government has equally supported the University College Hospital (UCH) to the tune of 32 million naira.

“This brings the total support extended to the two institutions of the Federal Government to N118.9million,” the statement added.

The statement indicated that the letter dated 25 June, 2020, read: “I write to affirm the support of the Oyo State Government to the COVID-19 Laboratory in the Department of Virology, College of Medicine, UCH, Ibadan for the first six months of the emergency response to the problem.

“The approved amount totalling Eight-Six Million Naira, nine hundred thousand pairs  (N86.9m) i.e $200,000 to date, channelled through the Ministry of Health, is to cover funding gaps to purchase an auto-extractor, computer for data entry, supplemental real-time PCR testing reagents, consumables, payment of Adhoc staff and allowance for some other staff, diesel, freezers for storage of specimens and courier shipment of some reagents from Europe.”

The statement also indicated that the letter cleared the air on the needless controversy emanating from the University College Hospital, Ibadan and the College of Medicine over the N118 million support provided to the UCH and the Department of Virology by the Oyo State government.

This was as the state government reiterated its earlier position that aside the N86.9 million support to the Virology Department’s COVID-19 Laboratory, it has directly supported the UCH with some medical supplies to the tune of N2 million and a N5 million revolving fund provision for treatment of Oyo State residents with COVID-19, while another N25 million worth of medical supplies have been procured and are in the process of being delivered to the Hospital by the supplier.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG