EBOLA: Doctors Rejects Idea Of School Resumotion On September 22

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