Nigeria has closed all schools in response to the Ebola outbreak
Nigeria announced yesterday that the resumption of classes in all schools, both public and private, will be delayed by a month in order to place “preventative measures against the deadly Ebola virus, which has already claimed five lives in the country’s capital, Lagos.
“All primary and secondary schools in private and public sectors are to remain closed until Monday, October 13,” Nigerian Education Minister Ibrahim Shekarau said while addressing a meeting of senior teachers in the country. “This is to ensure that adequate preventive measures are put in place before students resume.”
“All state Ministries of Education are to immediately organize and ensure that at least two staff in each school, both public and private, are trained by appropriate health workers on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola and also embark on immediate sensitization of all teaching and non-teaching staff in all schools on preventive measures,” said Shekarau. “This training of staff must be concluded not later than September 15, 2014.”
“Each state Ministry of Education should appoint a designated Desk Officer not later than September 1, 2014, who should also receive appropriate training and who must report on daily basis to the Honorable Commissioner on situation in the schools,” he continued. “The names of such Desk Officers, their phone numbers and e-mail addresses should be communicated to the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education not later than September 1, 2014.
“All primary and secondary schools, both public and private should be provided with a minimum of two Blood Pressure Measuring Equipment by the State Ministries of Education. The State Ministries should determine the number of such equipment required and forward same to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than September 1, 2014. Ministry of Education will liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that appropriate equipment are procured.”
“Our concern is for the children and we would go to any length to ensure both private and public schools comply. You can imagine if a child is infected in a boarding school of say about 600 children, it would be very dangerous. We are not saying there is Ebola in all states of the Federation but we are putting some preventive measures in place.”
Read more about the story at BBC.
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