Cholera: Some Lagos schools may not resume from break — Commissioner

•No cause for alarm, says Health Ministry

FOLLOWING the outbreak of cholera, the Lagos State Commissioner for Primary and Basic Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, yesterday, disclosed that not all primary and secondary schools in the state may resume from the current mid-term cum Sallah break.

Recall that students in public and private schools in the state have been on break for one and a half weeks.

Alli-Balogun, who spoke with Vanguard, explained that the Ministry would have to wait for an advisory from the Ministry of Health to know the next line of action to take.

His words: “Our schools are prepared for resumption. The necessary steps have been taken and we are on top of the situation. However, we are going to wait for the needed advisory from the Ministry of Health that is mapping out the areas affected by the outbreak of the disease.

“We hope to get the advisory later and if the Ministry of Health tells us that going by their assessment of the situation across the state, they have found some endemic areas where it would not be appropriate for schools to resume, schools won’t resume in such places. We cannot endanger the lives of our children.

“Later today (Tuesday) we will come out with the government’s position on the issue. If schools everywhere in the state are free to resume, no problem. The state government is not resting on its oars and has been taking steps to curb the disease outbreak.”

No cause for alarm, 

says Health 

Ministry 

Speaking on the development, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi said there is no cause for alarm.

Abayomi said: “We held a meeting on Monday with officials of the Ministry of Education to appraise the situation and so far, there is no cause for alarm. All the COVID-19 protocols put in place in our schools are still there and intact. People only need to observe them, not only in our schools but at home. The Ministry has also come out with tips for the people to observe even during the outbreak of Cholera.

“We are ready for any emergency, but as we speak, there is nothing to worry about. We also call on parents to ensure hygienic practices at home by everybody. Steps have been taken to curtail the outbreak,” he said through an official of the ministry.