Borno State Implements Cholera Prevention Measures in Schools
The Borno State Government has mandated immediate implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures in all schools across the region. This directive comes in response to a confirmed cholera outbreak affecting Maiduguri and its surrounding areas.
As previously reported by Business Day, officials have confirmed at least 39 fatalities and recorded 4,204 cases of cholera across seven council areas within Borno state.
In a statement issued to the press in Maiduguri on Wednesday, Lawan Abba Wakirbe, the State Secretary for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, emphasized that the outbreak constitutes a high-priority public health emergency that demands urgent and coordinated action among all educational institutions.
Wakirbe highlighted the rapid transmission of cholera, which spreads through contaminated food and water, particularly in densely populated settings such as schools. He stressed the importance of heightened vigilance to safeguard students, teachers, and staff members.
In light of the cholera alert in Maiduguri and its surroundings, Wakirbe instructed all schools to implement epidemic prevention and control plans aligned with the guidelines established by the Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC). He reaffirmed that the health and safety of students and staff are of utmost importance.
Additionally, schools were charged with bolstering their water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) protocols. This includes ensuring regular handwashing with soap and clean water, installing multiple handwashing stations, facilitating access to safe drinking water, and prohibiting unpackaged food and beverages from unauthorized vendors on campus.
Schools were also directed to enforce strict food safety standards, conduct daily environmental hygiene practices, and maintain proper waste disposal and drainage systems to mitigate pollution risks.
Wakirbe further mandated schools to enhance surveillance and report any suspected cholera cases to health authorities promptly. He urged school administrators, including principals and vice-principals, to isolate students and staff exhibiting symptoms such as severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, or rapid dehydration, and to ensure they receive medical attention at health facilities. Suspected cases must be reported to local health authorities within a two-hour window.
As part of preventive measures, schools are expected to organize emergency awareness campaigns, such as assemblies and classroom discussions, to educate students about cholera prevention and personal hygiene practices. Wakirbe warned that adherence to these directives will be strictly monitored through routine and unannounced inspections of all educational institutions in the state.
Wakirbe reiterated that this directive is not a routine measure, and non-compliance will be treated with the utmost seriousness. He urged all stakeholders within the education sector to collaborate fully with health authorities and school administrators to implement necessary preventive measures, thereby protecting public health and preventing the spread of cholera within schools and the broader community.
