The government of Rivers state has announced Monday, October 6, 2014 as the resumption date for primary and secondary schools as the number of people under surveillance suspicion of Ebola virus have reduced considerably, according to a report by Thisday.
The commissioner of health in Rivers state, Sampson Parker told newsmen of Friday, September 19, 2014 the the postponement was done so as make sure make sure the number of primary and secondary contacts reduce significantly before schools resume.
He said, “We currently have 253 contacts under surveillance and we hope that by weekend, the number would have come down significantly. We expect that quite a number of those under surveillance would have been discharged in batches. We had a suspected case at the isolation unit, but the result of the test proved negative.
“By October 2, we can say with a measure of confidence that the outbreak of Ebola is over in Rivers State. We can say that the spread of Ebola is over in Nigeria from the results that have come out of our collective efforts. Our challenge will remain Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.”
, “Primary and secondary schools in concert with the federal system of government that we operate in Nigeria are actually within the jurisdiction of the state ministry of education. Our decision to resume on October 6 does not in any way contradict the position of the federal government.
“Please, remember that the condition of Rivers State is peculiar considering the fact that the outbreak of Ebola in our state is the most recent. Rivers State is the state that is currently hard hit by the Ebola disease in Nigeria. Remember, the minister said that schools can resume as from September 22. We have to take into consideration our local concerns”.
“Any school in Rivers State that does not meet the standard of our health regulations will be closed down. We will not accept anything below the required health standard that we have stipulated. Whatever is needful for the schools to meet up with environmental and health requirements will be provided by the state government”.
“The regulation of schools will be more rigorous this time around. We acknowledge the reality that we are in an emergency situation right now. But we will do all that is needful to contain the spread of Ebola in Rivers State. “
In a related development, Thisday reports that the Kano state government has announced that schools should resume on the Monday, September 22, 2014 resumption date stipulated by the federal government.
The Kano commissioner of education, Tajudeen Gambo said “I am appealing to the parents to send their wards to school on Monday 22 and also to ensure their children’s wash their hands on a daily basis to avoid contraction of any disease not necessary Ebola”.
He made the assertion in Kano on Friday, September 19, 2014 while speaking to reporters in his office. He further explained that heads of schools have been given numbers to call in case of any eventuality in addition to staff which have already been trained.
In his words: “State government had trained at least three staff from all the schools in case of any emergency. We also provide all schools with liquid soap in order to ensure that all students wash their hands. Schools are ready to resume on September 22 as proposed by the Federal Government and we call on school managers to ensure daily practical demonstration of hand washing by the pupils, students and teachers”.
