The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has rejected the Monday
September 22nd resumption directive given by FG to all Primary and Secondary
schools due to the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.
Meanwhile the NMA speaking
through its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Olawunmi Layaki, said they expect
all schools to remain closed until December or early next year when all Ebola
suspects under surveillance have been cleared and certified free of the virus.
"We are not happy with this decision on the resumption of
schools. Schools should be shut till the last suspected case or patient is
certified free of the virus. We can shift the resumption date till next year or
in the next three months if that is the time it will take.
It said Government should have enough time to follow the standard
procedure for containing the virus. Parents have no reason to
be in a hurry because if Ebola should enter any school, it will
assume another dimension. Children cannot survive isolation like adults.
Nigeria is peculiar because of her large population and we should be pragmatic
and proactive. It will not augur well for the country if we have
another outbreak due to carelessness.”
In the same vein, the chairman of the Lagos state chapter of the
association, Dr Tope Ojo said most public schools lack basic hygienic
facilities and this would expose the students to easy spread of the virus.
"It would not have cost the Federal Government anything to
have waited till those under surveillance have completed the 21 days in all the
states where they are being monitored. The government knows that it takes a
longer time for children to get used to the idea of hygiene and sanitation.
They are even more vulnerable because they would play with each other whether
they are sick or not. How many children know that they should use hand
sanitizers or avoid contact with anybody that has fever? Waiting till October
when at least the situations in Rivers and Lagos states would have been
conclusively managed is another safety measure the government should have
taken. These kids are not studying to get a degree, so we are sure it would not
have affected schools’ curricula.” he said
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