Coronavirus: A Facebook User’s Experience Of Getting Tested In Abuja

ATTENTION: PRESIDENCY & FED. MINISTRY OF HEALTH

To tell you the truth, NCDC can't do anything for you because they are not ready.
All this PR they are doing they are assuming people will not try that's why.
On Wednesday (25/03/2020) I and a colleague of mine decided we want to be sure of our status before going into #selfisolation.

So we went through the following steps

1. We called the toll free line and after all the normal recorded stories, when we chose to speak to an agent they end the call.

2. We went to University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, they told us they don't do testing there, that the hospital is only an isolation center. They refer us back to NCDC office in town, told us that's where testing lab is.

3. We drove to NCDC office at Jabi. There are two NCDC offices there in close proximity. The first office told us they don't do testing but they directed us to the second office saying that's where testing is handled.

4. The second office too absolved themselves of that responsibility and directed us to NCDC National Reference Laboratory, Gaduwa.

5. We visited the NCDC NRL. On getting there, the security at the gate informed us that a lot of people were there too earlier in the day and were turned away. That they don't do testing for individuals unless your state took your sample and submit to them.

6.They refer us to a circular posted at the gate and told us to contact the FCT Epidemiology team lead on COVID-19.

7. When I called him I introduced myself by name and then asked him if he's the FCT team lead on this issue. He answered yes. I then asked him how do I go about getting tested. He asked who are you? Who gave you my number? I told him I'm an Abuja resident and his number is on a circular at the NCDC office. He told us he doesn't know. He said we should go to NCDC. I told him but they referred us to you. He was silent. I then asked him to advise us. He told us to go to "National Health Disease Control" which doesn't exist.

I will send a copy of the circular to this forum.

Obviously they are doing selective testing which is dangerous.

It means a lot of people might have been infected already but for lack of testing they are moving about infecting others.

While the information from the official channels are saying people are not coming forth, the truth is that people are going but are been turned away.

And I know because I was turned away first hand.

It also tells you that either the NCDC are lying to us or they are not coordinated at all. How will you explain three branches of the office each denying responsibility and pointing us to the next instead of just explaining to us the laid down procedures by the NCDC

https://m.facebook.com/673827759324224/posts/3897292313644403/

SinisterX:
ATTENTION: PRESIDENCY & FED. MINISTRY OF HEALTH

To tell you the truth, NCDC can't do anything for you because they are not ready.
All this PR they are doing they are assuming people will not try that's why.
On Wednesday (25/03/2020) I and a colleague of mine decided we want to be sure of our status before going into #selfisolation.
So we went through the following steps
1. We called the toll free line and after all the normal recorded stories, when we chose to speak to an agent they end the call.
2. We went to University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, they told us they don't do testing there, that the hospital is only an isolation center. They refer us back to NCDC office in town, told us that's where testing lab is.
3. We drove to NCDC office at Jabi. There are two NCDC offices there in close proximity. The first office told us they don't do testing but they directed us to the second office saying that's where testing is handled.

4. The second office too absolved themselves of that responsibility and directed us to NCDC National Reference Laboratory, Gaduwa.

5. We visited the NCDC NRL. On getting there, the security at the gate informed us that a lot of people were there too earlier in the day and were turned away. That they don't do testing for individuals unless your state took your sample and submit to them.

6.They refer us to a circular posted at the gate and told us to contact the FCT Epidemiology team lead on COVID-19.

7. When I called him I introduced myself by name and then asked him if he's the FCT team lead on this issue. He answered yes. I then asked him how do I go about getting tested. He asked who are you? Who gave you my number? I told him I'm an Abuja resident and him number is on a circular at the NCDC office. He told us he doesn't know. He said we should go to NCDC. I told him but they referred us to you. He was silent. I then asked him to advise us. He told us to go to "National Health Disease Control" which doesn't exist.
I will send a copy of the circular to this forum.
Obviously they are doing selective testing which is dangerous.
It means a lot of people might have been infected already but for lack of testing they are moving about infecting others.

While the information from the official channels are saying people are not coming forth, the truth is that people are going but are been turned away.
And I know because I was turned away first hand.

It also tells you that either the NCDC are lying to us or they are not coordinated at all. How will you explain three branches of the office each denying responsibility and pointing us to the next instead of just explaining to us the laid down procedures by the NCDC

Have you finally gotten tested? Because I want to get tested. Can we discuss on WhatsApp?

I knew it. It will soon bore down to who you know and your status in the society.

it is official. We are on our own.

ogtavia:


Have you finally gotten tested? Because I want to get tested. Can we discuss on WhatsApp?

I got this info from a facebook user (Anon) he just went home to self isolate. I would advice you only go for testing if you’re seeing serious symptoms if not just stay at home

If this is true, how did they hide it from us? I'm yet to read about any Nairalander based in Nigeria who actually has the Coronavirus Disease....

Update: I have seen two. There could be more.

Treatment would be free

This is clueless at its peak. So the figures they keep touting every day is indeed fictional.

In other words while they are playing politics with covid one nine birus, the shit is getting real and about to hit the fan

OP saying they are doing selective screening is right.
Is selective screening appropriate in this kind of situation? YES.

Should they use individual's economic or social status for screening? NO!

Why are they (NCDC) doing it this way?
I don't know.

That person seeking a test right now is an unserious fellow. They are only testing those with symptoms such as fever, cough and body aches who may have been exposed to an infected person. There are very limited number of testing kits to go around, so yes of course screening is selective. Even in America and Europe, they are only testing people with symptoms, so why did your friend think he can just get tested like that?

It has been very difficult for average Nigerians in Nigeria to get tested. In most cases, they are screened out as low priority.

For this reason, we came together to setup a First-Contact service for average Nigerians.

Everything you need to know about our strategy to give full attention to everyone is on our Nairaland thread.

We have repeatedly reached out to persons who indicated that they were experiencing certain Covid-19 associated symptoms, offered medical advise, and channeled the data to the responsible government agencies for immediate intervention.

Here's a link to our thread - https://www.nairaland.com/5761835/fill-form-experiencing-symptoms-covid-19

Seun:
If this is true, how did they hide it from us? I'm yet to read about any Nairalander based in Nigeria who actually has the Coronavirus Disease....

cc Iamj

It's a shame really that we're not ready. Thousands re still waiting to be tested.

Lord help us, because we are all on our own.

May Almighty God continue to be always protecting all securing us from this deadly virus, no matter how its may Almighty God never let it know it direction to our lifes and all our family and friends amen

Damnnnnn niggarrr

Isoright
Not only ncdc office can conduct the test

hospitals in Abuja, Lagos and Edo have the capacity to test for the virus
That gwagwaladar hospital nor want run am
Or rather let them set ncdc lab in each state

No surprise here.


The cases in Africa are low because we don't have enough testing kits.

When the virus was yet to get into Africa instead of our leaders to do the right thing they were busy forming we can handle it.

Now see our life.

The virus has crippled our economy
It has crippled our health system
The few doctors we have are overworked (some are in hiding)
Everyone is clueless including the president

Africa as a continent just tire me.

That is Nigeria for u

O serious

God sev tire for our matter

But Davido could take 32 people along for test plus a governor has done 6 times

We already know that those figures are bull shi t. Useless govt.

damn country

Seun:
If this is true, how did they hide it from us? I'm yet to read about any Nairalander based in Nigeria who actually has the Coronavirus Disease....

Those figures are fabricated. One idiot will just wake up and tell them to add a certain no.

Wawu!

See gobe.he like say them they fear too.

Chisos

Buhari and his clown are fraud

just forget all these testing and shit. the corona stuff is not that serious in africa or let me say nigeria. i can assure you that if they go testing everyone from street to street, we will have atleast 5 positive cases in each street. i do not know of places like island. but for mainland e don spread finish. the fact that we are not seeing breakouts means the virus is not that active on nigerians

It will never catch any nairaland member. How would it catch us when we don’t work again and we are glued to nairaland? It is well

Seun:
If this is true, how did they hide it from us? I'm yet to read about any Nairalander based in Nigeria who actually has the Coronavirus Disease....