Monrovia – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has installed a sanitary walk-through scanner at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) as part of ongoing national preparedness efforts against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak reported in parts of Central Africa.
The move is aimed at strengthening surveillance, screening, and early detection measures at Liberia’s main international gateway to prevent the possible importation of infectious diseases into the country.
According to NPHIL, the newly installed scanner will enable health authorities to rapidly screen arriving passengers for elevated body temperatures and other possible signs of illness that may require additional public health assessment.
Health authorities say the initiative forms part of Liberia’s broader preparedness strategy currently being implemented by NPHIL in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Port Health Services, the Liberia Airport Authority, and several international partners.
The strategy focuses on enhancing disease surveillance, improving screening procedures at points of entry, strengthening case detection and reporting systems, and ensuring rapid response capacity in the event of a suspected Ebola case.
Officials noted that the walk-through scanner will complement existing screening protocols already in place at the airport while improving the efficiency of passenger processing and maintaining strict public health standards.
NPHIL further disclosed that trained Port Health personnel have been deployed to operate the equipment and ensure that all screening activities are conducted in line with international health regulations.
The installation follows a recent assessment visit conducted by NPHIL’s Interim Director-General alongside Port Health officials to evaluate preparedness measures at the airport amid concerns surrounding the ongoing Ebola situation in affected countries.
The assessment reportedly examined the availability of screening equipment, isolation procedures, staffing capacity, and coordination mechanisms among relevant stakeholders operating at the airport.
Despite concerns over the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, NPHIL has reaffirmed that Liberia remains free of Ebola Virus Disease.
However, the institution stressed that preparedness and vigilance remain critical to protecting the health and safety of residents and travelers.
NPHIL continues to encourage the public to cooperate with health screening measures at all ports of entry and to remain alert as authorities intensify national surveillance efforts.
Authorities say the deployment of the sanitary walk-through scanner demonstrates the Government of Liberia’s commitment to maintaining strong border health security and improving the country’s ability to detect and respond to potential public health threats.
The institute added that Liberia continues to build on lessons learned from previous outbreaks by strengthening surveillance and response systems aimed at safeguarding public health nationwide
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