Screening points, detecting machines, hand sanitisers and other
measures to prevent an Ebola outbreak in the country have yet to be
provided at the Seme border.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Health
Organisation (WHO) alerted the world of an outbreak of Ebola disease in
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Several measures have been put in place at major airports in Nigeria to
prevent and curtail the dreaded disease, but no such action was seen to
prevent the disease at the border.
Checks conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reveals that there
are no screening points, sanitisers and detecting machines at the
border.
The reports also said that travellers and residents are also yet to be
sensitised on the re-emergence of the disease in DRC and measures
government is putting in place to curtail its spread to Nigeria.
Also, Port Health officials were not screening people going in and out of the country through the border.
A port health official, who pleaded for anonymity, told NAN that there is no equipment to screen people.
“We are aware of the recent outbreak of Ebola and the need to put
measures on ground since this is the busiest border in the country, but
there is no equipment for us.
“We have not been given screening machines, sanitisers have not been
provided so there is little or nothing that we can do about it.
“You can be rest assured that once we have the necessary equipment and
logistics, we will carry out all the measures that is needed to curtail
this dreaded disease,” the source said.
Besides, commuters around the border area who spoke to NAN do not have
knowledge of the recent outbreak of Ebola in DRC.
A commercial bus driver, Mr Tomiwa Sadipe, said that he was not aware
of the recent outbreak.
“I have not heard about anything. As a matter of fact, I’m just
hearing this from you but I’m glad I know so I will be careful,”
Sadipe said.
