The Trade Union Congress has expressed shock
over the inability of the authorities of the Port
Harcourt International Airport to put measures in
place to screen passengers entering the airport
four days after the confirmation of the spread of
Ebola virus in Rivers State.
The State Chairman of TUC, Mr. Chika Onuegbu,
said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on
Sunday that not even temperature check device
had been placed anywhere within the airport.
It will be recalled that the dreaded disease has
claimed the life of one Dr. Iyke Enemuo, even as
over 160 persons have been kept under
observation to ascertain if they have the disease.
Describing the development as callous and
irresponsible, Onuegbu urged authorities of the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that
passenger entering and moving out of the Port
Harcourt Airport were checked.
This, according to Onuegbu, will help in efforts
towards containing the Ebola virus in the state.
“The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Rivers State,
is shocked that despite the confirmation of Ebola
Virus Disease in Rivers State that the authorities of
Port Harcourt International Airport have not put
anything in place to check passengers entering and
leaving the airport.
“Not even the temperature check device is in the
airport. We view this as callous and irresponsible
and immediately call on the authorities of FAAN,
NCAA and all agencies in the Port Harcourt
International Airport to immediately ensure that
they check all passengers entering and leaving the
airport,” Onuegbu stressed.
He pointed out that the TUC were of the view that
the diplomat that imported the disease from Lagos
might have been prevented from doing so if FAAN
authorities at the airport had done what was
expected of them.
The state TUC chairman, however, called on the
Ministers of Health and Aviation to ensure that
such facilities at the Murtala Mohammed
International Airport in Lagos to detect the disease
were also put in place in the Port Harcourt
International Airport.
Reacting to the TUC statement, FAAN Regional
Manager, Mr. Henry Anyanwu, told The PUNCH in a
telephone interview on Sunday that the Ebola virus
screening device would be ready within the next
two days.
“Something is being done about the Ebola disease.
The issue of checking the Ebola disease is a joint
responsibility headed by the Federal Ministry of
Health. They are the key agency at the airport.
“People in FAAN are just a backup. We have our
medical team at the Port Harcourt Airport. I am
sure that before the next two days or so, the
necessary equipment will be put in place at the
airport,” Anyanwu stated.

SOURCE: http://www.punchng.com/politics/absense-of-ebola-screening-device-at-ph-airport-shocking-tuc/