ActionAid: Nigeria needs to scale up COVID-19 testing

ActionAid Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, says the country needs to scale up its testing capacity for COVID-19.

In a statement issued after its virtual meeting on Saturday, the organisation said Nigeria needs to intensify actions on clinical and preventive measures.

Nigeria has so far tested a little above 60,000 people for the coronavirus, but this is still low when compared to samples tested by other African countries; for instance, as of May 6, Ghana said it had conducted 135,902 tests.

ActionAid said while the country needs to scale up its testing, physical distancing advisory should be implemented to the letter.

“The Federal, State and Local governments should develop and include a coordinated approach to manage the relocation and welfare of street children in the local, state and national COVID-19 response strategy,” the organisation said.

“There should be adequate space for the children in their holding locations with guaranteed safety, shelter, physical distancing, sustainable feeding and testing for COVID-19.

“Beyond COVID-19, northern state governors should start to conceptualise ways to fix the Almajiri system by intensifying the campaign for parents to take responsibility for their children, while articulating a robust plan that will keep children off the streets for good and reintegrate them in formal education.”

It also called on government to increase budgetary allocations for agriculture, health and education sectors to aid Nigeria’s recovery from the pandemic.

“Evidence has shown that increased investments in these pro-poor sectors have strong impact on poverty and inequality reduction, while simultaneously creating employment opportunities,” it said.

“Agriculture employs up to 80% of the population, especially in the informal sector, where the majority of the small-scale food producers are women farmers.

“Financial inclusiveness should be encouraged through increased access to credit for the small-scale farmers.”

ActionAid further said lawmakers should partner with civil society organisations to redraft the controversial Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020, and “replace the oppressive clauses in the proposed bill with provisions that guarantee human rights and privacy in access to healthcare.”