The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has insisted that there is no evidence to prove the presence of the COVID variant XEC in Nigeria.
The minister mentioned this on Friday at the commissioning of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Ultra Mega PCR Laboratory.
Speaking with journalists after the commissioning of the PCR lab and a tour of the NIMR labs, the minister said, “As I am talking to you, we have no evidence of that (XEC variant) in Nigeria and have ensured that our surveillance system is up. Our ports of entry are now being more closely monitored to ensure that we’re able to detect quickly if such is going to enter.
“But just like I told the NIMR people, they are very important to ensure that because if we say that those variants are not in Nigeria, it means that we’re able to conclusively test and say that we have not found it anywhere.
“So as I’m talking to you, the variant is not in Nigeria and we hope that our surveillance system, our protection and prevention system can help keep the variant out of the country.”
Recall that the Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, alerted health authorities to the newly detected XEC COVID-19 variant that was first detected in Australia and is now confirmed in 29 countries.
XEC is the latest in the long list of past and current COVID variants being monitored as the COVID-19 virus mutates.
Last weekend, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) stated that the XEC variant was designated as a Variant Under Monitoring and was yet to meet the criteria for designation as a Variant of Interest.
Speaking on the country’s readiness for tackling disease outbreaks and pandemics, Salako expressed confidence that NIMR was fit to respond adequately.
“Well, that’s an ongoing conversation. You know, there’s a global agreement that’s under discussion concerning pandemic preparedness. But I think that talking specifically about NIMR, with what I’ve seen today, I think we’re comfortable. When you talk about preparedness, it is not just about testing.
“There are a lot of aspects at the ports and what’s the level of preparedness? Even at the case management level, what’s the level of preparedness? So if I talk about specifically with NIMR, I think that I feel comfortable that NIMR can respond,” Salako said.
The minister further emphasised the importance of research in the health system and decision-making process of a nation.
He added that the government would continue to support the agency to perform its duty.
Salako described the commissioned PCR machine as an important element in ensuring health security.
“Health security is a critical pillar of our health sector renewal investment initiative. It’s also a global conversation that everybody must be part of because of the dangers of outbreaks and pandemics.
“The experience of COVID has taught us a lot of lessons that we must always be prepared for. NIMR is part of Nigeria’s preparatory machinery to ensure that we secure the health of Nigerians,” the minister said.
