Scanners installed at 4 airports to keep Ebola out

IN SUMMARY

• The Ebola thermal scanners have been installed in the country’s four international airports namely Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) where there are two while Zanzibar, Mwanza and Kilimanjaro International airports have been allocated one each. 

Dar es Salaam. The government through its Medical Stores Department (MSD) has imported five ultra-modern walk-through thermal scanners to facilitate the screening of new arrivals at major airports in a bid to keep the country safe from the deadly Ebola virus.

The Ebola thermal scanners have been installed in the country’s four international airports namely Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) where there are two while Zanzibar, Mwanza and Kilimanjaro International airports have been allocated one each.  Speaking to the press in Dar es Salaam yesterday, MSD acting Director General, Mr Cosmas Mwaifwani, said the imported machines would  bolster the country’s capability to prevent introduction into Tanzania and the spread of the deadly Ebola  that is currently ravaging several West African states.

“The walk-through thermal scanners are demonstrating once again the government’s unwavering commitment in protecting the health of Tanzanians with special attention to the deadly Ebola.  Plans are afoot to import more of these gadgets to be placed in a number of points of entry at various land and sea borders,” he noted.

Mr Mwaifwani reassured the public that all was well with regard to efforts to prevent any penetration and spread of the deadly disease which has so far killed around 2,000 people in West Africa.

He added that the importation of the five gadgets wasn’t the first action, nor would it be the last, that the government will have taken to try to seal all possible openings through which infected travellers may bring Ebola to Tanzania. “MSD has so far imported a sufficient number of personnel protective equipment (PPE) to be used by health officials and medics that would be assigned to attend people suspected to be carrying the Ebola virus, plus basic medical supplies required in keeping an Ebola-affected person healthy and able to fight for his life,” revealed the medical supplies boss.

Besides stocking all necessary medical equipment to counter the Ebola threat, MSD had mid this year bought four hand-held thermal scanners which were delivered to the four major airports, with each receiving one gadget.  Despite all these measures, Mr Mwaifwani warned of complacence among members of the public, calling on everyone to play their part in making sure no traveller gets into the country without passing through the scanners.

 “Prevention of Ebola doesn’t end with installation of walk-through thermal scanners; it also entails members of the public keeping a watchful eye on who is coming in into the country through unofficial entrances hence exposing the country to the deadly virus.

“We appeal that everyone becomes a state agent in monitoring people who may sneak into the country by avoiding official border points,” said the MSD boss.