The Senate yesterday gave an express passage to the Nigeria Public Health quarantine, isolation and emergency health procedures bill.

Passage of the legislation came in the wake of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Nigeria which has been curtailed.

The new legislation will provide for the development of a comprehensive plan and a coordinated response in the event of a public health emergency.

It is also meant to facilitate the early detection of a health emergency and allow for immediate investigation of such emergency by gaining access to individual ‘s health information under specified circumstances.

The Bill also granted the Federal and States’ officials the authority to use an appropriate property as necessary for the case, treatment, vaccination and housing of patients and to destroy contaminated facilities or materials 

“To grant States and local officials the authority to provide care, treatment and vaccination to persons who are ill or who have been exposed to contagious disease and to separate affected individuals from the population at large to interrupt disease transmission,” the bill read in part.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the plenary yesterday said now that the Ebola disease have been contained, it is good to put this legislative law for the future.

In a related development, the upper legislative chamber also passed the Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists Bill 2013.