The Lagos State Government has stepped up measures to prevent the importation of Ebola Virus Disease into Nigeria with the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, leading a high-level inspection of preparedness systems at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The visit came amid growing concern over a resurgence of Ebola in East Africa.
Abayomi was joined by the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Health, Doctor Kemi Ogunyemi; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Doctor Dayo Lajide; among other top health officials, received by Regional General Manager South-West of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olatokunbo Arewa, alongside officials of Port Health Services.
The team reviewed passengers flow, infection prevention protocols, emergency response procedures and areas for stronger State-Federal collaboration.
Abayomi assured of Lagos collaboration with Airport authorities to strengthen early detection, rapid isolation, safe evacuation of suspected cases, and digital monitoring of travellers from high-risk countries, proposing dedicated arrival channels to limit contact between passengers from designated locations and other travellers.
Head of Port Health Services at MMIA, Doctor Lawal Abdullahi, said the Airport’s Public Health Emergency Contingency Plan was updated, 18th March, before the current East Africa outbreak, and its team had been activated, while risk assessments were conducted to identify countries of concern.