Yaoundé-Nsimalen airport awaits equipment against Ebola

The permanent Secretary of the national Committee of epidemiology, Tuesday morning paid a surprise visit to the Yaoundé-Nsimalen international airport.

Dr. Fiffen Alassa came "to check the measures placed against the Ebola virus. But he found that there was still nothing. He went to see what was happening at the level of Central officials, so that the necessary equipment can finally be provided at this level", noted one of the two nurses on call at the airport.

A Kenya Airways flight landed a few minutes earlier, with almost 80 passengers on board, which is what particularly captured the attention of two nurses.

Because, according to one of them, "there was a briefing a few days earlier with a surgeon about Ebola fever". She recalled the clinical signs and the modes of transmission of the disease.

And while waiting to receive the necessary equipment (gloves and combinations) to deal with a suspected case, "we have been recommended to pay special attention on the flights from West Africa, or those which have passed through there." In practice, "observe particularly each passenger to detect a possible symptom, including fever".

At the level of other epidemics, it was requested that when the arrival of a suspected passenger is reported, the aircraft should be isolated, disinfected and the passenger should also be isolated for support and if possible, transferred to a hospital.

It should be noted that at the Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport there is lack of health personnel, "as there are only two nurses at post. Sometimes they are three, at most. This is too few for efficient work," regrets another leader under anonymity.

The concerned explained however that there are 11, nurses and doctors. "But there is a rotation of service, 24/24. Everyone cannot work at the same time. However if a serious case is registered, a single nurse can do what is necessary.