By Bampia James Bundu
General Manager at the Sierra Leone Airports Authority has assured the public that to date, there has not been a single Ebola case detected at the country’s main and only operational airport in Lungi.
John Sesay told journalists at the airport that since the outbreak a lot of measures had been put in place, and assured that they would ensure the “airport does not export the Ebola virus disease to any other country in the world”.
He said they would keep working round the clock “despite the loss in revenue” and would ensure that expatriate medical staff, equipment, medicines and agencies working towards the eradication of Ebola were delivered.
“The management of the airport continues to partner with the US Centres for Disease Control, the local community, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the Police and Military Forces to ensure strict compliance with policies related to curtailing the spread of the virus,” the SLAA boss assured.
He said an “observation post” was being installed around the airport by the Westminster Security Agency “to monitor the flow of people in and out of the airport and also to ensure that nobody sneaks into the compound”.
He added passengers were also now being admonished to report earlier at the airport as there were lots of checking and screening processes to prevent Ebola suspects from travelling through the airport.
Deputy General Manager, Swarray Deen, also emphasised the effect of the disease on the airport’s economic base saying there had been some growth in the operations of the airport when flights landing increased from 5-10 percent before August this year.
“But from September to date, there has been a drastic drop in flight landing,” he said, adding: “it is hoped that with the measures put in place by the airport management, more flights will resume operations in the coming months”.
(C) Politico 18/12/14
