Lagos govt shutdown illegal COVID-19 medical testing lab

The Lagos State Government has on Saturday, sealed a private medical laboratory conducting COVID-19 tests.

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This according to the government was inline with its zero-tolerance against illegal operations in the state.

The state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had vowed to sanction any health facilities found to be carrying out tests for COVID-19 without approval by the state government.

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Sanwo-olu said in line with his administration’s promise to ramp up access to testing the state had registered seven private laboratories to supplement existing testing efforts.

While assuring that state government would exercise strict oversight and control to ensure that standards are maintained and consumers are not exploited, Sanwo-Olu warned against testing by non-accredited facilities. “We will bring the full weight of the law to bear on any Laboratories found to be violating this directive.”

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Therefore, the state government through, the Ministry of Health, sealed the facilities located at Banana Island, Ikoyi, area of the state following a tip off by concerned resident.

The illegal operation was said to be carried out within a pharmacy in the area and subsequently, discovered by Health Facility Monitoring Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, an agency of the state Ministry of Health.

The ministry, through its Twitter account, revealed that the medical laboratory; Acouns Medical Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre, situated inside a pharmacy, was carrying out COVID-19 tests without required government approval.

The ministry urged residents to desist from patronising health facilities not accredited by the state government for testing or management of COVID-19 cases.

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The post read in part, “It is illegal to manage COVID-19 cases outside of an accredited facility.

“We implore the public not to go for test or treatment in a private facility that has not been accredited by the government.

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“It is dangerous and it might put you at more risk.”

The ministry, however, assured of its determination to ensure adequate protection of health and wellbeing of citizens through all its health facilities in the state.

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