additional Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) screen equipment from the United
States Government to boost screening capacity at the airport. The
equipment is worth 5,000 US Dollars.
Making the donation at the Conference Room of the airport, the US
Consul-General in Nigeria, Joff Hawkins expressed satisfaction with
the timely response of the Nigerian Government to the contagious
disease since its importation into the country by Patrick Sawyer, a
Liberian a month ago.
According to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, General
Manager, Corporate Communication, Mr Yakubu Dati , Hawkins " commended
the measures already in place at MMA, pointing out that EVD is neither
a Nigerian nor Wes-African problem but a problem to humanity as a
whole."
"He said that the donation of the equipment is a symbol of willingness
on the part of the American Government to assist Nigeria in any way
possible to combat the scourge."
Known as infrared thermometers or non-contact thermometers, the
portable hand held equipment has the ability to measure body
temperature of in- bound and out- bound passengers for possible Ebola
symptoms from a distance.
Present at the occasion were, Dr. Alex-Okoh, Head of Port Health,
Lagos, Dr. Garry Bronette of Center for Disease Control(CDC), Heads
Agencies at MMA, Airlines/Handling Companies Representatives, Health
Personnels at the Airport, Airport workers, among others.
Agencies at the airport were also commended for their collaboration
since the first reported case of the virus in Nigeria. The Federal
Airports Authority of Nigeria was particularly applauded for providing
the necessary infrastructure for the Port Health Services and
collaborating Agencies to effectively discharge their duties in the
face of the threat posed by the rampaging virus.
It would be recalled that screening of passengers which was initially
restricted to in-bound passengers from the West-African Countries has
since been expanded to include all in- bound and out- bound passengers
from all destinations.
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