FREETOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENGAGES PORT HEALTH UNIT; CALLS FOR INCREASED PASSENGER CARE DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS.
The role of Port Health at FNA is to serve as the first line of Defence to protect Sierra Leone against the entry of communicable diseases associated with cross border movement of people, conveyances, baggage, cargo and imported consignment. The Screening of known sick passengers (aeromedical evacuations) as well as supporting Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) are also part of their strategic functions at the Freetown International Airport.
These services are rendered by the Port Health Unit (PHU) from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Port Health Services at the Freetown international Airport is a 24 hour medical cover and regulated by the International Health Regulation (IHR2005) that coordinates health services between countries.
In a bid to constantly review the airport service delivery of the various facilitation agencies, the management of the Sierra Leone Airport Authority has met with the entire staff population of the Port Health Unit at the Airport EOC on Wednesday, June 1, 2022.
In chairing the meeting, Deputy General Manager, Mr. Bobson Kargbo explained that the move to independently meet one facilitation agency away from the usual monthly Airport Facilitation Meeting (AFC) is to have the opportunity to meet and talk to every staff not just their Heads and supervisors, and to present passenger feedback of their services as published or filed by Airport users.
The Deputy General Manager continued that in recent weeks, it has received grave concerns from passengers complaining about illegal requests, unsupportive to PRM cases and being uncooperative to best practice measures.
”As we take appropriate steps to mitigate public health risk or provide assistance to PRM, we must balance that with stronger passenger care initiatives and serve our passengers in the most respectable way. The incessant requests for money from passengers is inimical to our brand and image. They won’t refer to you as a Port Health officer but as an Airport service provider. As employees from your institutions you must serve with integrity and together we can deliver credible Airport services”.
According to the Airport’s Deputy General Manager, SLAA management is not only talking tough on these issues but already has in place stronger guidelines in informing the national health secretariat for actions to be effected if their staff is found culpable as well as forwarding these issues to the national air transport facilitation committee, NATFP.
The Deputy General Manager concluded that the Ministry of Transport & Aviation and all air transport stakeholders are sending a unified message, “to stop the harassment of passengers and do assigned jobs effectively and Professionally“. The Airport needs its enviable brand and as a management , doing all they can to support the work of Facilitation agencies.
Mr. Lawrence Conteh, SLAA’s Head of Operations, presented agency compliance performance report as well as passenger reports filed by the PR department from the Airport social media handles. He noted that the reports evoke the need for the Port Health to strictly follow their job functions, desist from asking passengers for money and provide the necessary care for PRMs.
”The Port Health Unit should always communicate their concerns to the head of operations and Terminal Building Managers so as to maintain work efficiency during flight operations.”
Head of Airport Port Health, Mr. Abdulai Jalloh, said with the growth of the airport and global travel, the demand for their services is increasing but without corresponding resources that will aid the delivery of the various categories of POE interventions. After presenting their concerns and the challenges they are faced with in relation to airlines, passengers, and other Agencies, he implored the Port Health staff to respect the Airport‘s bye laws and Standard Operating Procedures so as to promote sanity at the Freetown International Airport .
The SLAA Deputy General Manager, assured Port Health of SLAA's management commitment to look into these challenges and bring coordination of the issues through direct collaboration with the ministry as well as the National Air Transport Facilitation Program.
The meeting also had in attendance the Public Relations Officers, Compliance Manager and Terminal Building Managers.
