…As NASRDA Develops Made in Nigeria Mobile Telemedicine

By James Ezema

Unkown to many, there have been several made in Nigeria products for combating COVID-19 virus in the country.

The various innovations has been in the media since the index case of Coronavirus disease in Nigeria in February, 2020.

Some of such breakthroughs in locally made anti-coronavirus products were on Thursday inspected and tested by a delegation of the Senate committee on Science and Technology led by its Chairman, Senator Uche Ekwunife during a visit to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

The made in Nigeria products were built to aid the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

The committee members present were introduced to the inventions made by the agency.

Some of the made in Nigeria products are ventilators, safety tunnel and automatic disinfectant machines with motion sensors for disinfecting people, open spaces and buildings.

In her reaction, Senator Ekwunife congratulated the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu who was present at the occasion, and the management and staff of the agency for their ingenuity, hardwork, and timely delivery of products that will aid the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

She challenged the agency to make more technological strides targeted at ensuring that Nigeria is well equipped to combat current and future health challenges.

In a similar development, the Senate committee visited the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to inspect and test the agency’s Innovative Mobile Telemedicine project which is essentially a mobile hospital for locations with insufficient medical support.

Commenting on the project, Senator Ekwunife observed that the invention would provide an urgent relief to areas with limited medical facilities and personnel.

She reiterated the importance of Science and Technology to the Nation’s economic growth and development.

While thanking everyone who played a role in making the programme a success, Senator Ekwunife expressed hope that these innovations and inventions would be rolled out for operational use as soon as possible.

Senator Kola Balogun, Senator Yusuf Yusuf and other members of the committee were part of the delegation.

The Street Reporters Newspaper recalls that recently, young innovators from Gombe State who produced a ventilator were received by the state Governor, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya.