TEACHERS IN EKITI OVER EBOLA

• Teachers in Ekiti vow not to resume classes wednesday

As primary and secondary schools resume  for the 2014-2015 academic session today in Lagos State, the state government has begun the distribution of sanitary wares and instructional materials like water tanks, buckets, soap, gloves, posters, handbills, instructional compact discs and handouts on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to schools, in an effort to prevent an outbreak of the disease in schools.

The Special Adviser to the state governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, who stated this yesterday while addressing a crowd of teachers and heads of schools at the Eko FM ground, Agidingbi, Ikeja, noted that the state government postponed the resumption of schools earlier slated for September 22 to October 8 in order to put some preventive mechanism in place before the resumption of schools.


 

She explained that part of the preventive and infection control mechanism being put in place included the training of teachers and focal persons for each school on EVD prevention.

She said the procurement and distribution of thermoscans; a device for checking temperature, the production and distribution of information, education and enlightenment materials, including posters and handbills on EVD were also part of the measures being deployed.

Adeshina further stated that the state government had data on the availability of water in public schools across the state stressing that temporary measures are being put in place by the state government on the provision of water in schools with no water.

These measures, according to the special adviser, include the provision of water tanks, water tanks stands, colour and transparent bucket and distribution of N5,000 to schools without water for the temporary purchase of water for use in the schools.
 


She noted that the state government wouldinclude ‘a hand washing’ class in the school curriculum to encourage practical session on hand washing in a bid to inculcate the culture of hand washing in pupils; this, she noted was a step in ensuring high standard of personal hygiene in pupils.



“We have posters to educate pupils on EVD we also have posters that give instructional aid to proper hand washing technique.

This posters and instructional materials are designed to be posted on the walls of classrooms. A compact disc to aid teachers on presentation on Ebola virus and a student handout manual on the disease have also being distributed,” Adeshina said.



The special adviser explained that the thermoscans are not Ebola virus detector devices but devices for checking temperature which signals fever; which is one of the symptoms of EVD, adding also that the disposable gloves are also meant to be used by teachers when handling sick pupils.



She implored all heads of schools and teachers to utilise the various materials and resources being given to them judiciously and ensure that the effort of the state government in the containment of the EVD is not defeated as schools resume.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday called on its members not to resume for the new academic session today as directed by the state government.

The state chairman of the union, Mr Samuel Akosile, told journalists in Ado-Ekiti that asking teachers to resume for the session with empty stomach was like attempting suicide.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Governor Kayode Fayemi had last Monday announced that public and private primary and secondary schools across the state should resume on today for the 2014/2015 academic session.

The announcement came after weeks of fears of outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and demand by teachers that government should put measures in place to contain its spread before resumption.

The NUT boss also directed his members to shun their duty posts until the August and September salaries being owed by the government were paid.

He said that government had no justification to ask teachers to resume duties when they were still being owed two months salaries and other allowances.

Akosile said: “How can we go back to work when we are being cheated? We cannot pretend that all is well when teachers are dying in silence.

“As we speak now, teachers have not received August and September salaries as well as the deductions in July salary.

“But to our surprise, local government workers have been paid up to September. So what is the justification for the governor asking us to resume to duties?

“I hereby direct that all our members must remain at home until we are paid.

“I do not want a situation whereby teachers will either be dying on the roads or working with empty stomachs. ‘’

In its reaction to the call by the NUT chairman for teachers to stay at home, the government through the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, pleaded for understanding.

He said that government was making efforts to pay the two months’ salary arrears owed the teachers.

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