The Anambra House of Assembly has called on Gov. Willie Obiano to direct the state Ministry of Health to construct a quarantine facility to check the spread of viral diseases in an event of health emergency in the state.
The House made the call in its resolution on Thursday, following a motion moved by Mr Lawrence Ezeudu (Dunukofia) under Matters of Urgent Public Importance.
Ezeudu said it was important to have a quarantine facility in an outskirt area to house people afflicted with contagious and dreaded disease separate from other patients and people.
He expressed concern over the spread of Coronavirus (Convid-19), Lassa fever and other communicable life-threatening epidemic in the country and the world.
“Coronavirus, which emanated from Wuhan in China less than a month ago, has spread to over 26 countries and still counting.
“We are aware that the spread of this disease is so massive that 97 people died in a single day in Wuhan, China which is the epicentre of the deadly disease, notwithstanding the quality health facilities that China enjoys as a developed country.
“We are afraid that if disease like Coronavirus was to infect anybody in the state and without a quarantine zone, the rapidity of its spread cannot be underestimated.
“Constructing a quarantine centre specifically for the purpose of containing contamination and decontamination of certain contagious and infectious diseases will limit its exposure and spread in Anambra.
“Such Isolation centre meant for the purpose of containing infectious diseases will be considered a giant step in tackling the deadly disease outbreaks,” Ezeudu said.
Contributing, Mr Obinna Emeneka (Anambra East), said with the prevalence of viral diseases in the country, it was essential to have a standby quarantine facility in the state.
“You can never predict the next viral infection that will occur or reccur in the country,” he said.
In his views, Mr Edward Ibuzor, (Onitsha North ll), said having a quarantine facility in the state was a way of practicing preventive medicine.
Also, Mr Nnamdi Okafor (Awka South I), said the state had a minor Isolation Centre located inside the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital.
Okafor said that it has no standing equipment to carry out decontamination of viral diseases.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Uche Okafor, said that viral infections were a threat to life, public health and safety, which required a standard standby quarantine facility to prevent their spread.
Okafor, however, called on Gov. Obiano to direct the Commissioners for Health, Lands and Housing, to map out a span of land and construct a quarantine facility that would serve as a safe zone in an event of health emergency.
