TUE, MARCH 03 2020-theG&BJournal-The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said Monday that it will continue to ensure that airlines assist with the tracking of passengers who may have come in contact with suspect or ill persons as well as other measures that the National Surveillance requires, as it ramps its COVID prevention measures at the nation’s airports.
‘’All contingency plans for public health events in Aviation have been activated including airport specific Public Health Emergency Contingency Plans (PHECPS),’’ NCAA said in a statement by its Director General, Capt. Musa Nuhu. He added that NCAA has ensured that all measures adopted at Nigerian airports are in accordance to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and WHO International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).
Musa Nuhu said: ‘’Airlines and other airport users are advised to heed the guidance of Port Health Services, a division of the Federal Ministry of Health and competent public health authority at point of entry, on the use of screening forms, assessment of suspect or ill travellers and any other measures they may adopt. Airlines, airport operators, security agencies and other aviation industry stake holders are advised to take appropriate precaution to protect their staff.’’
The NCCA advised travelling public to remain calm but alert and ‘’take necessary precaution in protecting themselves.’’
The NCAA said the measures are in line with the guidelines of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Collaborative Arrangement for Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CASCA), and has been working with the Federal Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders in the aviation industry to ensure all travellers coming into the country are adequately screened while causing minimum disruption to facilitation of travel.
The measures followed the first recorded confirmed case of COVID-19 on 27th February 2020, of an Italian travelling from Milan who came in through Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday, 24th February 2020.
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