Press Release

On the 21st December, 2020, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provides additional capacity development support to laboratories of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under the Project for Strengthening Detection of and Response to Public Health Threats in Nigeria, in the fight against (COVID-19) pandemic. This support is provided as part of JICA's ongoing technical cooperation project to the NCDC under Japan's official development assistance (ODA).

In April 2020, JICA supported the NCDC through provision of test kits and PPE materials and today as part of an additional support is handing over RNA test kits that we hope will be geared towards increasing testing capacity of any new cases, emergency preparedness and response to the disease.

In the past months, cases have continued to rise on a global scale and most countries have experienced different phases while trying to control the spread of the virus, several control measures have been adopted. Even more recently, some countries are beginning to implement rules on phases of lockdown as the number of deaths continues to rise and new cases are been detected. The situation in Nigeria currently has over 75,000 confirmed cases and over 1,200 deaths recorded, the highest numbers of cases are seen in Lagos and the FCT, Abuja.

In the last two weeks (30th Nov- 13th Dec), the number of positive cases has increased by more than two folds. Testing positivity rates has more than doubled which points an increase in transmission of the virus across the country. Overall 17 states recorded a decline in testing while 20 states recorded an increase, the number of deaths has also increased with a 10% (7 to 17 deaths) absolute change. With number of cases increasing JICA's support on RNA test kits to the Government of Nigeria at this time will be highly beneficial and will be a significant contribution to increasing conduct of national tests.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Ms. Damilola Graham-Douglas at +234-70-1683-7805, or email Douglas-Damilola@jica.go.jp

L-R: Anthony Ahumibe (NCDC/JICA Project Manager), Nwando Mba (Director NCDC National Reference Laboratory, Abuja), Nakagawa Takayuki (Chief Representative JICA Nigeria Office).