Ogun Govt Moves To Prevent Cholera Outbreak In Schools

Ogun State Government has directed all heads of schools operating in the state 

to put adequate  measures in place, to ensure good health and safety of all learners and staff, in order to prevent the spread of cholera within the school communities.

The  State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, in a statement made available to Edu-Biznews on Wednesday, said preventive measures had been put in place to control the spread of the disease in schools in the state.

The measures according to him, take effect from Wednesday, 19th June, 2024 as schools resumed from the mid-term break and the Eid-el-kabir holiday.

Some of the measures must be taken include comprehensive health talks on cholera prevention among learners and staff, including information on symptoms, transmission routes, proper hand hygiene, and safe drinking water practices;

He asked them to ensure availability of clean water and soap for hand washing in school premises

Arigbabu directed them to always encourage regular handwashing, especially before eating and after using the restroom

"Promote the use of hand sanitisers with at least 60% alcohol content as a support to hand washing"

"Regularly inspect and maintain water sources within school premises to ensure that they are safe for drinking"

"Instruct learners and staff to consume only boiled or chlorinated water and avoid consuming raw or unwashed fruits and vegetables", he added 

"Maintain clean and hygienic school environments, including proper disposal of waste and regular cleaning of toilets and common areas"

Collaborate closely with local health authorities and follow their guidelines for cholera prevention and control measures;

"Ensure safe food preparation by making sure that they are properly cooked and covered when not consumed immediately"

"Monitor closely the food vendors and ensure that they collect letters from health facilities certifying their fitness for the job"

The Commissioner in the directive also asked them to designate Health Officers within the school to monitor learners and staff for any symptoms of cholera (like frequent watery stooling, etc) and report any suspected cases immediately to the nearest Health Care Centre and ot the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

"By adhering strictly to these preventive measures and maintaining a high level of vigilance, we can collectively safeguard our health and well-being during this critical period," the statement concluded