Lagos State issues official Press statement on September 22 Resumption Date for Schools

Lagos has decided to issue a Press statement
signed by Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and
Strategy, Dr. Lateef Raji after an emergency
meeting of the Lagos State Executive
Council.

" Concerning the resumption of all public
and private nursery, primary and secondary
schools for the 2014/2015 session, Lagos
State Government supports the September
22, 2014 date, which was announced by the
Federal Government after a national
consultation on efforts to contain the Ebola
Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria.
"Although this resumption date is advisory,
as education is a concurrent matter to be
regulated by the respective federal and
states authorities, Lagos State Government
considers it eminently justifiable, in view of
the fact that there is currently no known
carrier of EVD in our state at the moment."
The state government noted that since the
last individual suspected to have been
exposed to the virus could be discharged
from observation on September 18, 2014,
there is no reason why all public and private
educational institutions in the state should
not resume.
To this end, the government therefore
directed to schedule their resumption
accordingly.
"Considering the current situation report, it
is clear that the risk of infection with EVD in
Lagos State has been significantly reduced.
Health professionals working on the
outbreak are also in agreement that there is
no reason why schools should remain closed
beyond the 22nd of September, 2014.
"In spite of the foregoing, the State
Government has now developed and will
deploy all resources necessary to sustain the
capacity to promptly take into custody any
person suspected to be infected with EVD, as
well as safely test, monitor and isolate such
a person for treatment as may be found
necessary without endangering other
members of the public.
"We also acknowledge the need for
everyone to remain very vigilant, as the
disease still remains in other countries
within the sub-region."
The Lagos state government stipulated that
the following steps will be taken in all
schools, whether public or private, before
and after resumption of schools.
" Training and sensitization of students,
vendors, teachers and non-academic staff on
EVD and how to avoid it; Identification of
EVD Focal Persons in schools who would be
responsible for surveillance and health
monitoring; Provision of adequate
environmental sanitation, including clean
toilets and premises; Provision of running
water and soap and encouragement of
frequent hand washing; sensitisation of
students on other personal hygiene habits,
like the use of handkerchiefs when sneezing
or coughing; and Arrangement for prompt
referral of any sick person to the nearest
health institution for treatment", the
statement added.
The State Government noted that the health
of all its residents is a matter of utmost
importance adding that if there is any
reason for a reconsideration of the school
resumption date, a well-considered decision
will be taken and the general public will be
informed accordingly.