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.
A branch of WEMA bank in Lagos
“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.
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
