Adewole Directs Libya Returnees to Undergo Health Screening
The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has directed all Libya returnees to undergo medical screening before leaving for their various states. Stating this during a visit to the 487 Nigerian returnees which were the second batch from Libya at the Port Harcourt International Airport, he said the medical team must ensure that the number screened must tally with the expected number as contained in the manifest provided by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) He said his visit was to ascertain the level of medical services rendered at the camp set up for them and to determine if there were gaps needing interventions.
He spoke while inspecting the camp setup for them through the collaborative effort of NEMA, Port Health Service Division of the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Immigration Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), The Nigerian Police, Rivers State Command, FAAN, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), and the Red Cross Society. In a brief interview with journalists at the camp, Prof. Adewole informed that the effort so far recorded by the combined team showed that the team was well constituted and adequate plans and preparation made for the job.
He said the federal government through all relevant Agen- cies and the Federal Ministry of Health was determined to make things better for the returnees and poised to see how they could benefit from what the country has to offer.
He furthered added that, this was an on going process of rehabilitation and reintegration of the returnees into the societies. This, he opined would rebuild hope and confidence in them as they got settled to start life afresh. Adewole advised that, a counselling unit must be set up to provide psycho-social services, in that, quite a number of them must have been traumatized by the unwholesome experience they suffered while in Libya.
He also noted that, the medical team at the camp needed a mobile X-tray machine and ICT unit to ensure proper and thorough screening and documentation.
“This is the only way to achieve a comprehensive medical screening and also decongest the UPTH as some medical cases could be handled at the camp thereby reducing the number of the referrals to the Teaching hospital”.
Commending the NEMA staff for their commitment and dedication, he advised them to reach out to State Governors who were yet to pick up there indigenes who were medically cleared and fit to be reintegrated into the society. He however stressed that, they had to be a pool for the screened returnees ready to be picked up and proper contact established with their relatives.