PRATIQUE: Port Health Issues 48 Hours Notice To Shipping Agencies Over Coronavirus Threats

By Roland Ekama, Lagos

Apparently determined to prevent the spread of the dreaded coronavirus,Port Health Services has issued a 48 – hour notice to all shipping line agencies on vessel movement and crew before calling at the nation’s seaports.

It was gathered that the health officials have also written to all sister agencies and relevant authorities within the port city to embrace safety measures against the backdrop of the virus spread.

The notice which used to 24 hours alertness was extended to 48 hours, as apart of measures to screen seafarers aboard in furtherance to know their body temperature.

Port Health officials are the first set of government agencies to board vessel upon arrival in Nigerian seaports,followed by immigration then customs .

The health officials after embarking on the examination of crew aboard ships,give signal through a yellow flag to indicate safe for embarkment,while double yellow flags show that the vessel is under suspects on health related matters and yellow blue gives the impression that such vessel is under health threat.

Pratique is defined as the permission given to the captain of the vessel to embark , disembark and to commence operation .

They include: Type Free pratique Oral and Function performed by Port Health Services 1Radio pratique.

Various function of Port health services include: boarding and inspection of ships ,pest control activities, Health education, Food control activities, As hockey activities, Vaccination or Inoculation, Medical services, Water services,Public Administration.

According to a statement sighted by our correspondent on Friday in Lagos, the shipping lines have been instructed to issue crew details to the health organisation within two days ,even as the aim of the alertness was to get the body temperature of the seafarers aboard each ships at berth

Sources also disclosed that sensitisation campaigns have been ongoing in the Lagos seaports, since the outbreak of the virus in China.

Our correspondent gathered that vessels from Asia and Europe to Nigerian ports are seriously under the watchful eyes of the port health services.