By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Following the recurrence of infectious diseases in the country, Enugu State Government, in collaboration with The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), conducted a simulation exercise at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu,the state capital.
The State Commissioner for Health, Professor Ikechukwu Obi, expressed the state government’s readiness to prevent and combat any outbreak of infectious diseases in order to ensure hitch-free Yuletide celebrations in the South-Eastern state.
The exercise, which held at the Nigeria Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB) premises, involved FAAN workers and other health-related agencies operating at the airport.
In a reassuring remark, the Commissioner said the exercise was aimed at demonstrating the state’s commitment to enhancing its preparedness for public health emergencies, particularly in high-risk areas like airports.
“Enugu State stands the risk of infectious diseases’ outbreak due to the international airport that serves as entry point for people coming into South-East states for the Yuletide celebrations, hence the need to sensitize airport workers to step up to their responsibilities and ensure that every passenger coming into the state is well examined to keep the state safe,” he added.
Also speaking, FAAN Regional Airport Manager, South-East Airports, Mr Hillary Umunna, represented by the Head of Operations, FAAN, Mrs. Udenze Onyeka, maintained that airport workers will continue to work in synergy with the State Ministry of Health to prevent outbreak of infectious diseases especially now that people were travelling to the region for Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Okechukwu Ogbodo, in an overview outbreak stimulation, stressed that the exercise was necessary to prepare the minds of airport workers to step up to their responsibilities to ensure no infectious disease penetrates the state.
While giving them tips on how to carry out their functions, Dr. Ogbodo told them that airport workers are in position to identify suspected cases and keep accurate data in situations of identified cases, adding that diseases such as mpox and Covid-19 spread easily and faster, and should be carefully monitored.
