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A contractor with Dangote Fertiliser company has been quarantined in Lagos over coronavirus and is currently under isolation and undergoing test in a hospital.
This will be the fourth identified case of Covid-19 that will be reported in Nigeria.
The management of Dangote Industriws Limited made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday. It said of the Indian national is currently at the Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba, after the management of the company was informed.
According to the statement: “The attention of the management of Dangote Industries Limited has been drawn to a flash report of a suspected case of personnel currently being kept in isolation at the Mainland hospital, Yaba, Lagos.
“We will like to state that an Indian national who is a staff of Onshore Construction Company-a mechanical, electrical and instrumentation contracting firm that specialises in fertilizer construction reported at the site clinic complaining of high temperature and fever.
“His complaint triggered our protocols which necessitated further screening and isolation immediately. Mr. Akhil Kunyil, of the Health and Safety Environment of the Onshore Company, reported the development to the management following which local authorities were contacted.
“The patient was immediately conveyed to the Lagos Mainland Hospital Centre, where he is currently being isolated and undergoing tests.
The management said stringent proactive measures has been taken across the entire group since mid- January 2020 to prevent the spread of the virus.
It said the following measures has been put in place;
- Development of a comprehensive risk identification, control priotization and escalation plan.
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Identification and retention of a competent team of medical consultants
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Travel ban for all employees to/from high risk countries as per W.H.O publications of country exposures
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Travel tracking of all employees and contractors staff arriving/leaving Nigeria and obligations for completion of medical checks to validate health status
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Implementation of use of Thermal cameras across our various sites as well as infrared thermometers checking in smaller office locations
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Identification and creation where applicable of holding, isolation and quarantine areas
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Implementation of use of sanitizers across all locations: sites and offices
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Multiple and continuous awareness campaigns on preventative measures to be taken (both electronic and physical i.e. posters, public announcements)
The company further stated that measures are continually updated as the situation evolves globally, noting that the welfare of its employees and the nation as a whole remains the utmost priority.