Inoyo Toro Foundation, Stanbic-IBTC Testing Lab Ready - A' Ibom SSG

...as residents applaud Udom Inoyo

By Iboro Etim-Nkpoyo

The state-of-the art Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Laboratory donated by Inoyo Toro Foundation with Stanbic-IBTC to the Akwa Ibom state government has been delivered.

This was contained in a statement on Akwa Ibom state Covid-19 Update by the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman, Akwa Ibom Covid-19 Committee, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem on June 5, 2020.

Briefing newsmen on the upgrade of medical facilities in Akwa Ibom state, Dr. Ekuwem said that the 300-bed Isolation Centre; built and equipped by the state government has been commissioned with a fully detached Doctor’s quarters.

PCR Laboratory located in the Ituk Mbang Isolation Centre, where critical tests, including Covid -19 and other infectious diseases would be carried out is fully equipped and ready to commence testing.

Commending individual / corporate support through cash and material, Dr. Ekuwem informed newsmen that the laboratory - a second after that of the state government was donated by the Inoyo Toro Foundation and Stanbic-IBTC Bank.

The support from corporate organizations has brought chain reactions from residents of Akwa Ibom state who spoke to our reporter.

A resident, Mr. Ubong Samuel Esu of the Department of Early childhood Care and Education, College of Education, Afaha Nsit said that with the donation of a testing laboratory by the Inoyo Toro Foundation, the founder of the foundation Mr. Udom Inoyo is sensitive to the flight and situation of the people and state. Mr. Esu said that, while other organizations that have benefitted from the state have kept quiet and gone to bed in this critical period, the Inoyo Toro Foundation has expanded her mandate with the belief that Akwa Ibom teachers need to be alive first before they are empowered to teach the students, hence the need to carry out aggressive tests in the state.

For Barrister George Ufot, the donation of a laboratory by Stanbic-IBTC Bank and Inoyo Toro Foundation is a welcome development that will assist the state in the fight against Covid-19. Commending Mr. Inoyo for the donation of a testing laboratory, Barr, George stated that the donation is far better that "sharing few cups of rice because only people that are alive can eat rice. Corporate organizations need to take a cue from these bodies."

For Ejem Agwu, PhD, a Mass Communication Lecturer and resident of Uyo, Tests for viral presence are used to diagnose illness and to allow public health authorities to identify and contain outbreaks as quickly as possible. So access to consistent testing is necessary to assist the government tackle the pandemic, thus corporate organizations like the bank and the foundation are life savers for investing huge amount of money to ensure that Akwa Ibom people are rapidly tested.

Another resident, Mr. Eric Ekwere told this reporter that, "there are not much laboratories currently accredited for COVID19 testing in Nigeria, while more is in progress. With the donation from Inoyo Toro Foundation and Stanbic IBTC Bank, Akwa Ibom State will join the map. The fight against COVID-19 begins with an accurate test/diagnosis.
Let's stay safe and encourage social distancing as much as possible.

Recall that a statement by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong in a press release dated March 30, 2020 had it that the Inoyo Toro Foundation in partnership with Stanbic IBTC Holding PLC had pledged support to the government with Laboratory Equipment for
the establishment of a Testing Centre in the state. According to the Commissioner for Health, the gesture of the foundation and bank is to ensure the early testing of suspected cases and accurate diagnosis of Covid-19.

The Inoyo Toro Foundation is a nongovernmental organization focussed on human capacity development in Akwa Ibom state.