As students in both private and public schools nationwide return from the Mid-Term break today to continue the 2023/2024 Third Term Academic Session, the Federal Capital Territory is emphasizing the importance of implementing strategies to prevent the emergence and transmission of cholera within school premises.
The Director of the FCT Secondary Education Board, Sani Ladan, mentioned that the board has carried out awareness campaigns for school principals and established various measures such as maintaining cleanliness and overseeing the activities of food vendors to combat the potential spread of the disease.
Additionally, the initiative includes the provision of disinfectants, toilet paper, and handwashing stations at school restrooms to enforce adherence to hygiene protocols. The schools have also been equipped with designated bins for proper waste segregation and disposal.
“The (school) principals were sensitised to that issue, and there are so many measures that we are working on. One is the sanitation of the schools. Secondly, the food handling because even before now, all our cooks are well schooled on how to handle food issues. From the store, to where they would prepare it, to how they would package it, and how the students will eat it, and how the plates will be gathered and washed.
“And most of our schools now, we don’t even allow students to eat and drop anything anyhow. We have designed something like a bottle, so if there is anything watery or inside the water bottle, you will discard it there,” Ladan highlighted.
He mentioned that the board was collaborating closely with the Public Health and Disease Control Departments of the FCT Health, Human Services, and Environment Secretariat in anticipation of any potential outbreaks in schools.
Experts warn that unsanitary conditions, limited access to clean water, and a scarcity of cleaning supplies can make individuals more susceptible to contracting cholera.
Cholera is a highly contagious disease transmitted through contaminated food or water, poor hygiene practices, and lack of handwashing. Symptoms may include sudden, painless watery diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and fever. Severe cases of cholera can lead to death within hours due to dehydration, although milder symptoms or asymptomatic cases are also common.
Early detection and treatment are crucial as cholera can be effectively managed with oral rehydration solutions and appropriate antibiotics. Lagos State Ministry of Health reported 350 suspected cases of cholera across 29 wards, resulting in 17 confirmed cases and 15 deaths.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that the country had 65 confirmed cases and 30 fatalities from cholera across 96 local governments in 30 states from 1st January to 11th June.
