Kudos , knocks greets September 22 resumption.

The Nigeria Medical Association on Monday faulted the federal government directives to resume school on September 22 against the October 12 date announced earlier. Speaking through its National secretary-General, Dr Olawunmi Alayaki, he said that all schools ought to remain shut till all those under surveillance for Ebola virus disease in the country have been certified free. “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 of the virus”He said. He suggested that the resumption date of schools could be shifted till December or early part of next year because if Ebola should spread to any school, it would assume another dimension. He added that parents should have no reason to be in hurry because children cannot survive the isolation like adults. Emphasizing on the point, 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. Meanwhile, one of the parents feels; it will be in the same vein at the end of the day. “The kids would resume at the end of the day, they should resume but adequate measures should be provided to avoid further spread of the virus”. Though they should have said “until further notice” from inception rather than the confusion they are about to cause. Mr Yusuf Olawale said.