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The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Quarantine Services and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and other relevant agencies to set up screening centres at all points of entry into the country to screen and watch out with the view of preventing the transmission of Corona Virus into the country.
It also directed the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with other relevant agencies to set up Testing and Isolation centres at points of entry into the country for purposes of detecting symptoms of the Corona Virus and where necessary isolate concerns, with particular emphasis on travellers from countries that have already had cases of the virus.
The House also directed all health institutions within the country to be on high alert for the signs of the virus with a view of curbing the virus in its bud in the hopefully unlikely event that the virus is transmitted into the country.
It further mandated the House Committees on Health and Interior to ensure implementation of the resolutions.
The Green Chamber gave this directive Wednesday during plenary, following the adoption of a motion on matters of urgent importance sponsored by Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Deputy Chief Whip.
Presenting the motion, Onyejeocha said the House noted that there is a new strain of a novel Corona Virus (nCoV) that has not been previously identified in humans.
According to her, the House noted that Corona Virus is a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
The Abia lawmaker said the House was informed that: “Coronaviruses are zoonic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that Corona Virus was transmitted from civet cats to humans and from camels to humans.
“Common signs of infection of coronaviruses include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more serve cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death.
“The said Corona Virus which originated from a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan on the 7th of January, 2020 has now spread to more than 15 countries including Canada, United State, Australia and France.
“There are fears that the transmission rate of the virus will be on as hundreds of millions are expected to travel to China for business and pleasure especially during the forthcoming Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations”.
The motion was unanimously adopted when put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who presided over the sitting.
