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The Nigerian Medical Association have faulted the
Federal Government’s directive that schools should resume on September 22 as
against October 12.
According to Chairman of the Lagos branch of the association, Dr. Tope Ojo, “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.
“It takes longer for children to get used to the idea of hygiene and sanitation. They are even more vulnerable because they would play with each other either they are sick or not.
“How many children know that they should use hand sanitisers or avoid contact with anybody that has fever? Waiting till October, when at least the situation in Rivers and Lagos states have been conclusively managed is another safety measure they should have taken. These kids are not studying to get a degree, so am sure it would not have affected the school’s curriculum.”
The immediate president of the NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, according to PUNCH also expressed worries about the safety parameters that the Federal Government had used to decide the resumption date in the first place.
“We must know the parameters that the Federal Government used to get to the resumption date in the first place. Has the Federal Government carried out a safety assessment in registered schools in the country? There should be a check list and only those who meet it should be certified fit to reopen.
“The minimum standard is that all schools should have a dispensary, a sick bay where sick children especially those with fever are properly managed and tested. I’m worried that these facilities are not in place, then why are they rushing them back to school?”
“They must convince parents that school authorities have the understanding of the basic symptoms of the disease and that the schools have the basic preventive, protective and basic management measures in place. If government can do that, parents will be confident to let their kids resume," he said.
According to Chairman of the Lagos branch of the association, Dr. Tope Ojo, “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.
“It takes longer for children to get used to the idea of hygiene and sanitation. They are even more vulnerable because they would play with each other either they are sick or not.
“How many children know that they should use hand sanitisers or avoid contact with anybody that has fever? Waiting till October, when at least the situation in Rivers and Lagos states have been conclusively managed is another safety measure they should have taken. These kids are not studying to get a degree, so am sure it would not have affected the school’s curriculum.”
The immediate president of the NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, according to PUNCH also expressed worries about the safety parameters that the Federal Government had used to decide the resumption date in the first place.
“We must know the parameters that the Federal Government used to get to the resumption date in the first place. Has the Federal Government carried out a safety assessment in registered schools in the country? There should be a check list and only those who meet it should be certified fit to reopen.
“The minimum standard is that all schools should have a dispensary, a sick bay where sick children especially those with fever are properly managed and tested. I’m worried that these facilities are not in place, then why are they rushing them back to school?”
“They must convince parents that school authorities have the understanding of the basic symptoms of the disease and that the schools have the basic preventive, protective and basic management measures in place. If government can do that, parents will be confident to let their kids resume," he said.
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