Cholera: Lagos, Ogun roll out measures to prevent outbreak in schools

The governments of Lagos and Ogun states have implemented measures to prevent cholera outbreaks in schools.

As schools resume after the mid-term and Sallah break, both states are taking steps to ensure the health and safety of students.

In Lagos, the government issued an advisory urging parents, guardians, and school authorities to adhere to safety guidelines.

The advisory emphasised the importance of hand hygiene, recommending that children carry hand sanitizers and frequently wash their hands with soap and water, especially before meals and after using the restroom.

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Schools are advised to ensure that food handlers follow strict hygiene practices to prevent contamination and the spread of cholera.

The advisory also recommended that schools keep Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) available in school clinics to manage dehydration cases promptly and to notify emergency hotlines immediately in case of any health emergencies or suspected cholera cases.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, confirmed 15 deaths from the cholera outbreak in the state.

He noted that laboratory tests identified a highly aggressive and contagious strain of cholera, posing a significant risk of widespread transmission.

In Ogun, the state government directed school heads to ensure the health and safety of all learners and staff to prevent cholera spread within school communities.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said the preventive measures include comprehensive health talks on cholera prevention among learners and staff, covering symptoms, transmission routes, proper hand hygiene, and safe drinking water practices.