Ebola Scare: FG orders Surveillance across Port Health Service

Ebola Scare: FG orders Surveillance across Port Health Service

Federal Government has directed all Port Health Service officials and other relevant agencies at the point of entry to Nigeria to heighten surveillance and ensure that all passengers coming in to the country are screen. Any suspected case must be presented for relevant test in line with the global practice on disease emergency control and prevention.

The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Abdulaziz Abdullahi Mashi, gave the directives in Lagos while inspecting the Port Health facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The Permanent Secretary alongside with some Directors from the Ministry, the and staff of Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) inspected the health facilities to ascertain the level of preparedness in case of any emergency following the rumored Ebola threats in Lagos

Mashi who noted that all the “Thermal Cameras” used to screen the incoming passengers in to the country are functioning perfectly, also pledged to increase the cameras and deploy more manpower as a result of heavy traffic at the airport.

“More doctors, nurses and other health officials would be deployed to the port health services at the International Airport, consumable required for day to day activities at the Airport would also be adequately provided” Mr. Mashi said.

The area visited by the permanent Secretary include Terminals D and C entry screening points, consulting room, secondary investigation room and isolation center for passengers whose symptoms are suspected to be infectious and harmful to others.

Also while in Lagos the Permanent Secretary FMOH, Mr. Abdulaziz Abdullahi Mashi met with Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Dr. Mrs. Titilayo Goncalves in her office.

Mr. Mashi appreciated the effort of the Lagos State Government on preparedness and surveillance system against Ebola virus.

He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Lagos State Ministry of Health had been working together to forestall importation of any disease into the country and called for continuous collaboration.

He said Lagos State is the entry point of most of the visitors to Nigeria hence there is need to heighten the surveillance system.

In her response, the Permanent Secretary Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Mrs. Titilayo Goncalves said that Lagos state was already at alert in case of any eventuality.

She said the recent information circulating in the social media that someone imported Ebola in to the country was not true. The said patient has been tested and the result was negative.

“I want to authoritatively tell you that the patient was tested and the result was negative, she is well and has been discharged, everybody should put his mind to rest there is no Ebola in Lagos”, she said.

The Federal Permanent Secretary also inspected Cancer Center at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where he expressed delight in the state of the art facilities at the centre.

Boade Akinola (Mrs.)

Director, Media and Public Relations

FMOH