NBA takes precautionary measures against deadly Ebola virus, ahead of AGC
Due to growing concerns for the spread of Ebola virus, the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has taken the following precautionary measures, ahead of the conference to safeguard members:
a). The Nigerian Bar Association has purchased hand bacterial and viral sanitizers which will be given to every conferee for usage throughout the conference.
b) Latex gloves and masks for service providers deployed to man registration, Marshalls (if necessary), etc.
c) Non-contact laser guns for temperature monitoring and screening of participants.
d) Public installed, standing dispensing non-contact hand sanitizers in select public places, with refills.
e) Dettol Anti-bacteria hand wash for the various restrooms +mobile toilets.
f) The Nigerian bar association Owerri branch has secured the collaboration and services of Nigerian Medical Association NMA, Imo State Chapter to provide ambulances and other medical equipment and personnel.
g) Education and enlightenment of members. Example is to avoid shaking of hands and physical body contact.
h) We will partner with FANN and Aviation Ministry for Airport screening on landing and surveillance at the Airports.
i) We urge our members to please maintain higher standard of hygiene.
j) Note that Imo state is not one of the states that have been flagged as location where potential victims have been sited.
k) Please further note that all the conference participants do not gather at the same venue at the same time. They are usually spread out in different sessions going on simultaneously. It is on record that ever since the outbreak of Ebola, there have been larger gathering of people at the same venue at the same time like Churches, Mosques, Religious Crusades, Political rallies. At this gatherings, they always experience the minimum number of 5, 00 people at the same time. There is no NBA session at the Annual General Conference that has more than 2,000 persons at the same time. Therefore the 2014 Annual General Conference in Owerri, Imo State is safe.
l) Sensitization by the media and the general public needed about Ebola Virus Disease via various public and private institutions.
The association has also made available vital information on Ebola from the Imo State Ministry of Health, which may also come handy to delegates during their stay in the state capital and its environs.
STATEMENTS BY THE IMO STATE COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH ON EBOLA
The following measures in place here, reassures us against any disease scare.
1. A rescue mission emergency team.
2. Daily briefings at my office on the situation around the world.
3. Statewide media briefings, announcements and jingles.
4. Emergency Operations Center EOC.
5. Designated hospitals as site for quarantine in the event of a high index of suspicion.
6. PPE’s (personal protective equipment) needed by and to reassure the health worker, who is the first to meet with, take medical history and act in any suspected case.
7. 24 hours Ebola help lines (mine inclusive 08037241437) and coordinated involvement of health sector workers especially the private sector practitioners such as the (AGPMPN).
8. Continuous public health sensitization at workshops, lectures, meetings and symposia.
9. Active feedback mechanisms between H/E, myself, WHO and other agencies.
10. General support through our fully functional international dialysis and diagnostic center to fall back on for any world class service desired while you are in Owerri.
Much regards.
HON. COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH, IMO STATE.