…Expresses satisfaction on collaborations between Port Health, FAAN
The Federal Government has pledged to address the issue of inadequate personnel at Port Health Services facilities across the country particularly at the nation’s gateway airports, even as it commended the collaboration that exists between the staff of the health agency and that of the host sister agency. The Federal airports authority of Nigeria FAAN
The pledge was made today by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Abdulazeez Abdullahi when he paid a familiarisation visit to facilities of Port Health Services at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Abdullahi who claimed the ministry has enough medical personnel to deploy to Port Health facilities across the country however used the opportunity to debunk the claim that an Ebola infested passenger was arrested at the airport.
He said: “I am here on a familiarisation visit to access the facilities on ground. On the issue of the Ebola Virus scare, this has been clarified and there is no truth in the earlier rumour that a traveller with Ebola Virus entered the country. We issued a release on Wednesday to denounce this.
“Besides, on inadequate personnel and the complaints of the service at the airport, I have noted all that. We have excess staff and things will be done and addressed. I can assure you that more personnel would be deployed to this place very soon”.
The dearth of medical personnel at the PHC clinics were raised by the Director of Port Health Services, Dr. Morenike Alex- Okoh who was on the entourage of the familiarisation team from Abuja.
She had complained: ” We have only one medical doctor here attending to every emergency and other complaints. Just as we have very few nurses many of who are retiring. New members of staff posted here are not ready to stay and work at the airport here, they prefer places of their choices.
Oginni, however pledged that FAAN would continue to assist and support PHS efforts at ensuring that no disease is brought into the country through any airport in the country.
“Since the outbreak of Ebola virus some few years back, we have been collaborating with Port Health Service. We normally have sensitisation meetings with them, including all the other stakeholders.
“In D and E arrivals, which are the two points of entries, we have facilities for them. Also at the aviobridge to the boarding area, PHS has equipment there for screening of everyone, which was demonstrated before the Permanent Secretary and I think he was satisfied with that.
“They have a permanent clinic at our E arrival, where we make sure we provide all the equipment they require. We also have isolated clinic for emergency for the service”.
