Doris Obinna
The Lagos State Government has reiterated that COVID-19 testing remains free in all its public testing laboratories for those that meet case definition in the State.
The public laboratories include; Lagos State Biobank, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Central Public Health Laboratory and Nigerian Institute of Medical Research.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, he said, “the State would like to reassure the general public that testing is still free at all the COVID-19 public testing laboratories for all Lagos residents and all Lagosians are enjoined to take advantage of this service if they feel unwell or feel they have had a close contact with an infected person.
“The Government has established sampling centres across the State and has continued to enhance the capacity of the public testing laboratories to test all those who require testing free of charge. If any resident feels unwell, please lodge a complaint through the appropriate channel by calling 08000CORONA.”
He said: “The Lagos State Government launched a Consortium of 7 private laboratories in the first phase as part of the testing strategy of the State to increase the accessibility of testing facilities to the organized private and corporate sector who wish to test for various reasons.
“For the avoidance of doubt it is necessary to reiterate to members of the public that testing remains free of charge at all public testing laboratories.”
Meanwhile, the selected private laboratories to commence testing COVID-19 cases soon include; “Total Medical Services, Medbury Medical Services, SynLab, Biologix Medical Services, 54 Gene, Clina Lancent Laboratories and O2 Medical Services.