Health minister visit boarder post, amid coronavirus

 

The Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Lamin Samateh and senior officials, on Tuesday visited the Amdalai boarder post to assess the level of preparedness to stop coronovirus entering the country.

Speaking to the press, the minister stated that we are in challenging time where we have the outbreak of coronavirus disease in China spreading around the world and it have reached Senegal. He said they have concern before but they are now more concern, in the sense that it is very close to The Gambia.

When we come to preparedness, Dr. Samateh highlighted that is a continued process and that's why they went to see what had already been done at the border; adding the good thing is, a lot of work had been done with the health officials.

"We doing lot of activities to enhance our preparedness when it comes to dealing with the coronavirus. We have improved on how people are going to be screen."

Since the outbreak started in China, he added that his ministry and its partners have tried to sensitaze the public and lot of people know about the disease.

On the rumours that are trending on outbreak in the Gambia, the minister said people should stop spreading rumours. "We should not say what we are not sure about."

He advised the general public to be regularly washing their hands, while added that application of alcohol base and hand sanitazers are equally important, we should not touch our faces with unwashed hands, especially the eye, nose and mouth.

"When we cuff, we should cover our mouth with tissue and one who sees fever should seek for medical check up. This are very important and simple measures that can protect all of us."

Modou Njai, the director of health promotion also explained that they are trying to strengthen our boarders but to as well strengthen cross boarder collaboration between the two countries, saying its the only way we can move forward.

"We want to assure the public that the ministry of health are working everyday to ensure we strengthen our boarders. 11 public health officers are now at the airport to do screening and advice people to continue washing their hands."

All the other boarder post, Njai continued that all they are doing is to strengthen them equipment and the materials they need like tamograohic meter to check people's temperature.

He emohasised that they have been doing lot of training but want more training in order to creat more awareness.

"We want people to use our 1025 which everybody can call to asked if they have concerns or for things to be cleared. I advised people to like out page on facebook for updates."

He appealed to people to report to the nearest health facilities, if seen any signs; advising people not to seek for traditional treatment because when there are emergency, some people want to come out to tell they can do something or treat.

"We want people not to follow them and report to the nearest health facility."

He revealed that they need the support of the general public because the ministry of health alone cannot do it.

"We are sure that we will continue our community base surveillance."