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| MD NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman |
The Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA) has confirmed it would establish an Isolation Centre at the Lagos Port Complex
by this week, to handle any suspected case of the dreaded coronavirus.
(NPA) has confirmed it would establish an Isolation Centre at the Lagos Port Complex
by this week, to handle any suspected case of the dreaded coronavirus.
Speaking at a sensitization
meeting with terminal operators at the LPC, Managing Director of the NPA,
Hadiza Bala Usman, said efforts at continued exposure of the port community to
the messages of precaution to be observed to prevent contact with the disease
is very valuable.
She made known that the Port Health has been on ground ensuring the port is healthy and that people working there have a good environment.
Represented by Adam Jatto,
General Manager Corporate and Strategic Communications at the NPA, the Managing
Director said: “The gathering is to ensure that we address this issue of
coronavirus and how port users should stay protected, as we are all aware that
the virus is spreading all around the world in a very rapid form.
General Manager Corporate and Strategic Communications at the NPA, the Managing
Director said: “The gathering is to ensure that we address this issue of
coronavirus and how port users should stay protected, as we are all aware that
the virus is spreading all around the world in a very rapid form.
“Of course, there is need for us
to curtail it, because we have been informed that for now there is no cure for
it. So, the best thing we should do is for us to have a preventive measure in
place to guide against a spread through any contact.
to curtail it, because we have been informed that for now there is no cure for
it. So, the best thing we should do is for us to have a preventive measure in
place to guide against a spread through any contact.
“So, on the basis of this, we
contacted the terminal operators and other stakeholders within the port for us
to be able to rub minds together to see how best we can do to prevent the
spread of the disease through the port.
contacted the terminal operators and other stakeholders within the port for us
to be able to rub minds together to see how best we can do to prevent the
spread of the disease through the port.
“Of course, we have done a lot of
things as the NPA to ensure that we prevent the spread of the disease, as port
is one of the entry points to the country. Vital at this time is that we will
open an isolation centre in the port, where any suspected case will be handled.”
things as the NPA to ensure that we prevent the spread of the disease, as port
is one of the entry points to the country. Vital at this time is that we will
open an isolation centre in the port, where any suspected case will be handled.”
She expressed satisfaction that each
of the terminals had in place as discussed, basic medical materials for
temperature screening and hand sanitizing for everybody going into the terminals,
especially for dockworkers who move to
crew to assess the vessels.
of the terminals had in place as discussed, basic medical materials for
temperature screening and hand sanitizing for everybody going into the terminals,
especially for dockworkers who move to
crew to assess the vessels.
On her part, Mrs Christy Akpa,
General Manager Medical Services at the NPA, gave assurances of the NPA’s
preparedness to handle any incidence should there be any suspected case on
board of any ship that shows symptoms of the coronavirus.
General Manager Medical Services at the NPA, gave assurances of the NPA’s
preparedness to handle any incidence should there be any suspected case on
board of any ship that shows symptoms of the coronavirus.
She said: “We are collaborating
with the Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health and with the
Lagos State Government through the Commissioner of Health.
with the Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health and with the
Lagos State Government through the Commissioner of Health.
“I want to assure everyone that
we are screening temperature of every port user, and working with Port Health
to ensure that all crew members on board are administered the passenger
declaration form.
we are screening temperature of every port user, and working with Port Health
to ensure that all crew members on board are administered the passenger
declaration form.
“The medical services of the NPA
has developed a weekly log (targeted at the crew), knowing the incubation
period of this coronavirus. So, we don’t just scan your temperature once and go
to bed.
has developed a weekly log (targeted at the crew), knowing the incubation
period of this coronavirus. So, we don’t just scan your temperature once and go
to bed.
“We are constantly monitoring
with the Port Health Services, and also keeping these log on daily and weekly
basis.”
with the Port Health Services, and also keeping these log on daily and weekly
basis.”
She said that as an obligation, ship
captain who notice a crew member exhibiting the symptoms that have been talked
about with respect to coronavirus, must fly a second yellow flag on the ship to
alert the port health services and the pilots who bring in ships, that a sick
person is on board, for them to take up the protocols that have been developed.
captain who notice a crew member exhibiting the symptoms that have been talked
about with respect to coronavirus, must fly a second yellow flag on the ship to
alert the port health services and the pilots who bring in ships, that a sick
person is on board, for them to take up the protocols that have been developed.
She also talked about creating an
isolation centre to hold people who are sick, while they bring in the State
Government that will take them to isolation centre with dedicated ambulance.
isolation centre to hold people who are sick, while they bring in the State
Government that will take them to isolation centre with dedicated ambulance.
Port Manager of the LPC, Mrs
Funmilayo Olotu, also talked about the importance of the isolation centre in
the port, being a place of first contact with crew from ships coming from
across the world.
Funmilayo Olotu, also talked about the importance of the isolation centre in
the port, being a place of first contact with crew from ships coming from
across the world.
A representative of one of the
terminals, Port and Cargo Handling Services, Dr. Mike Falana, applauded the
collaborative effort of the NPA and confirmed that the terminals had held meetings with the
Port Health Services in the week gone, discussing best actions to prevent the
spread of the coronavirus through the port.
terminals, Port and Cargo Handling Services, Dr. Mike Falana, applauded the
collaborative effort of the NPA and confirmed that the terminals had held meetings with the
Port Health Services in the week gone, discussing best actions to prevent the
spread of the coronavirus through the port.
