Following the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in
Nigeria, many banks have introduced new measures to curtail the spread
of dreaded disease.
Investigation revealed that among the new preventive measures
introduced by some of the Nigerian banks are self-dispensing hand
sanitisers, and body temperature scanners at all their branches in the
country.
Checks also revealed that some of the banks have introduced
protective gears for members of its staffs especially those who deal
directly with customers.
According to a notice to customers released by WEMA on Monday, 25
August, 2015, the bank said henceforth all customers and visitors to any
branch of the bank would be required to use the hand sanitisers and be
scanned for symptoms of fever before being admitted into their banking
halls.
“In the wake of the recent Ebola Virus Disease outbreak across
West Africa, we are compelled to introduce the following preventive
health and safety initiatives at all our business locations in order to
ensure a safe banking environment for all customers and staff,” the bank
stated.
“All customers and visitors are required to use the hand
sanitisers and also undergo a quick non-invasive body temperature scan
before being allowed into our banking halls and business locations.
“In addition, some of our staff at the more sensitive desks will
also be required to wear some protective gears while interacting with
customers and other visitors during this period” the statement read.
However, Premium Times reports that the bank did not say if
provisions will be made for customers who are denied access due to their
body temperature or other health concerns.
A visit to some branches of Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, also showed
that the bank has started implementing new safety measure aimed at
curtailing the spread of the Ebola virus.
At the GTB branch on Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos State, customers
were scanned for their body temperatures before being allowed into the
banking halls by security guards.
Some of the bank workers at the branch were also seen wearing hand gloves and mouth coverings at the teller points.
However, the federal Ministry of Health said it was not informed of the move, considered by some as discriminatory.
A health campaign organization, Projekthope, said the new policy is discriminatory.
“We should all learn to do things right. The presence of Ebola
symptoms does not necessarily mean transmission will take place,” said
Steve Aborisade, who heads Ibadan-based Projekthope. “And even if we
want to be hyper proactive it should be sensitive in ways that will not
be discriminatory and which actually stops transmission which is our
first purpose.”
However, a medical expert said the bank should go beyond screening
and make adequate referral arrangements for customers who may be turned
away due to their health.
“I don’t think we should see it in the light of a discriminatory
policy, I think they are just trying to act on the side of caution,” said Osahon Enabulele, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA.
“The end point should be to aid the referral of such an
individual to the nearest health facility for appropriate treatment. And
of course, I expect that they should have a medical unit in the bank to
quickly evaluate clients that may have suspicious features to properly
evaluate them and not just to turn them away,” Mr. Enabulele said.
It would be recalled that the Ebola virus has killed no fewer than five people in Nigeria since the late Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian businessman imported the disease to Nigeria.
According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, the Ebola virus has
killed at least 1350 people and 2473 cases confirmed since the new
outbreak started in February, 2014.
Apart from Nigeria, other West African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak are Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
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