The Federal Government has unveiled mobile testing and treatment vehicles that are to be deployed to combat the COVID -19 pandemic in the country’s rural communities.

The mobile testing vehicles were conceptualized as part of the ‘Telemedicine Project for Rural Medical Services’ initiated by the National Space Research and Development Agency, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

A prototype of the testing vehicles, which was unveiled agency’s headquarters in Abuja, was inspected by Minister of Science and Technology, Dr OGBONNAYA ONU, and members of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.

Speaking at the event, Dr ONU described the vehicle, equipped with a bed, waiting room and laboratory testing facilities, as a ‘game changer’ in the campaign against COVID -19.

A medical team, comprising ear and throat experts, was also attached to the vehicle.

The minister noted that the Federal Government intended to extend the same quality of medical attention given to patients in Lagos to those in the rural areas.

Acting Director-General of NASRDA, JONATHAN ANGULU, explained that the agency planned to take the telemedicine project to the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.