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.
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.
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.” it said
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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