The Muritala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, weekend got 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 vanguard.
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