Kogi State Ministry of education has concluded preparations to prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease across schools in the state. The State Commissioner for Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Agnes Okai stated this at the flag-off of the distribution of Preventive Materials to public and private schools in the state.
The ministry of education has also composed and released an Ebola Anthem to promote awareness about the danger of the Ebola Virus Disease in schools. The Anthem which is now being sung by students and pupils in all schools in the state is to, among other things, serve as a means of mobilization and call to action in promoting good personal hygiene while also using the children as active influencers to communicate efforts being made by the government to prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease in the state.
Addressing education stakeholders in Lokoja, Dr. Agnes Okai said that Ebola Preventive Materials which include scanner thermometers, plastic bucket with tap, liquid soap and protective gear have been distributed to over Three thousand schools in the state. She noted that the items will be administered by over Seven thousand emergency care givers drawn from teaching and non-teaching staff in public and private schools in the state.
The commissioner who sang the anthem to the admiration of students and teachers in some centres she visited, urged them to make good use of the items to prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease noted that children are among the vulnerable groups and therefore stressed the importance of teaching them good personal hygiene at all times within and outside the school environment. The Ebola anthem reads in part: “Ebola Virus Disease; the deadliest in history; but we will push you out, by taking precaution; by constant washing of hands with water and soap, and keeping environment clean; together we shall push you out …”
She expressed appreciation to Governor Idris Wada for the prompt response to the demand for emergency intervention required to prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease ahead of the resumption of schools in the state. She also commended teachers, school administrators and other stakeholders for their efforts in preventing the spread of Ebola Virus Disease in the state.
She announced that there were eight designated centres in Ankpa, Anyingba, Idah, Isanlu, Kabba, Lokoja, Okene and Obangede where over 7,000 emergency care givers were trained to implement personal hygiene initiative and preventive measures in over 3,000 schools in the state.
