The Managing Director of NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi, who acknowledged that Nigerian ports are gateways, hence vulnerable, cautioned port operators, especially first line contact officers against negligence when dealing with foreigners and vulnerable groups.
Abdullahi, while expressing deep empathy for those who have contacted the Ebola virus in the course of duty, noted that NPA would leave no stone unturned to make sure that port facilities are Ebola virus-free.
Giving an insight into what NPA has done, he disclosed that measures put in place include the commencement of enlightenment campaign about the origin, symptoms, mode of spread, identifying people at high risk, diagnosis, containment and prevention of the infection.
The medical department of the authority has equally issued guidelines to all its medical personnel on protection and prevention measures to be adopted in discharge of their duties.
These precautionary measures to be instilled in the workplace environment and in the port terminals will be carried out in collaboration with the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Division of the authority and the Port Health Department.
According to him, the measures are in line with the information from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is one of the world’s most virulent diseases, with a case fatality rate as high as 90 per cent, according to WHO. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. EVD is often characterised by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, and followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function. In some cases, there is both internal and external bleeding.
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Ebola: NPA issues guidelines for prevention of spread to ports, terminals |
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