Thread by @toluogunlesi

Nigeria recently published the 1st African SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence, from the country’s #COVID19 Index case

-Diagnosis by the Centre for Human & Zoonotic Virology, College of Medicine @LUTHofficial

-Genome sequencing by @acegid_lab, and @nimrnigeria

-Coordinated by @NCDCgov

“This report presents the first full genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 from Africa to be released... The turnaround time from sample receipt to sequence generation was 3 days (1st-4th of March 2020).” virological.org/t/first-africa… #Nigeria

A bit about @acegid_lab: The Director of ACEGID is @christian_happi.

6 years ago I emailed him questions for a piece I was writing about the #Ebola outbreak in Nigeria

He graciously replied—providing insight into how Lassa Fever helped prepare Nigeria for Ebola (& now #Covid19)

There’s a lot wrong with Nigeria’s healthcare system, no doubt, and a long way to go to greatness, but it’s also important to acknowledge the ways in which the system gets things right, and strives to be better.

Have you heard about this company: @biovaccinesnig ?

Biovaccines is a Joint Venture between @NigeriaGov (49%) and May & Baker Nigeria PLC (51%), for the domestic production of vaccines.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) ratified the JV Agrement on May 31, 2017.

Discussions started in 2003, culminating in the 2017 ratification.

2018: “Usually, a Greenfield project will require 5—8 years gestation... We‘re engaging experts & relevant Govt agencies to see how we can shorten this process without compromising quality. It is our hope that we can achieve production within 3–4 years.” premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/…