In its bid to foster greater collaboration with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) is working to step up its preparedness and response to any disease outbreak.
The move to build better working relationships was seen as the highlight of a courtesy visit to the South-South Regional Office of FAAN at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, by the hospital’s management, headed by the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Chituru Orluwene.
This has been made clear through their official social media post on Friday. According to the hospital, the courtesy visit was meant to build on the existing good relationship between the two federal agencies, in addition to coming up with other areas of collaboration in the delivery of public services.
Orluwene stated that the creation of the Presidential Task Force on disease outbreak preparedness by the Federal Government had increased the importance of the collaboration between public institutions.
He explained that the hospital and FAAN possess the technical know-how and capability to aid in the fight against public health emergencies.
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The official also thanked FAAN for its sustained support for the Teaching Hospital, and expressed hope that more collaborative efforts between the two institutions would boost emergency preparedness and protect the health of air passengers and the general public.
In her reaction, the Airport Manager and Regional General Manager of FAAN, Mrs. Lynda Ezike, pointed out that the Port Harcourt International Airport had already put in place a Public Health Emergency Contingency Plan to beef up its response to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.
It was further explained by Mrs. Ezike said that the Department of Aviation Medical Services had also developed a comprehensive Airport Emergency Response Plan, which is frequently reviewed and updated.
The meeting ended with both institutions reiterating their determination to increase collaborative efforts in the interest of disease preparedness initiative of the Federal Government and improve public health security at the airport.
Delegates who participated in the meeting were the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Richard Echem; Director of Administration, Ms. Erebi Wadiri; Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Olufemi Omitola.
