Mother and father of scholars in King’s School, Lagos (KCL), are fearful over reviews of a suspected Diphtheria outbreak within the college that led to the hospitalisation of some college students.
The mother and father who spoke in separate interviews with the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos blamed the outbreak on the unsanitary situation of the college.
World Well being Organisation (WHO) official sensitising King’s School, Lagos, college students on Diphtheria illness.
A guardian who pleaded anonymity faulted the college’s administration for its seeming silence and never swinging into motion promptly within the face of the outbreak.
The guardian stated, “If there aren’t any instances, why are the scholars mandated to put on nostril masks and a few of them taken to Lagos State College Educating Hospital (LUTH) for therapy?
“There have been instances late final yr.
“We heard that officers of the World Well being Organisation (WHO) had been within the college yesterday (March 8), to sensitise the scholars on preventive measures in opposition to diphtheria illness.
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“Why is the college secretive concerning the difficulty?
“Mother and father had complained a number of occasions concerning the poor environmental sanitation of the college and bathrooms, together with meals given to the scholars.
“College students even complain about some members of the meals committee and what they do.
“A couple of weeks in the past, some mother and father raised issues that their kids had fallen sick and had been identified with diphtheria on the hospital.
“Even, some PTA Exco don’t like mother and father to overtly complain about such.
“Final week, the college despatched a message to oldsters to signal a consent kind that will allow their kids to obtain diphtheria vaccines within the college premises.”
A replica of the consent kind obtained by NAN confirmed that the routine immunisation was achieved by the college in collaboration with the Lagos State Main Well being Care Board via Eti-Osa Native Authorities.
One other guardian lamented concerning the state of the faculty clinic, stressing the necessity for a medical physician to be consulting there usually, for it to function optimally.
Two different mother and father who spoke with NAN affirmed that in December, their sons had been hospitalised and handled for diphtheria.
“It was by God’s grace that my son survived.
“I used to be known as to choose him up. He complained of sore throat. His neck was swollen and he had excessive fever.
“Once we acquired to the hospital, he was on admission for over every week.
“In reality, there was one other scholar who was hospitalised for similar ailment the identical time, however he didn’t pull via,” one of many mother and father stated.
She known as for intensified preventive measures to be put in place in KCL and different colleges and the scholars to be consistently sensitised.
“These are nonetheless kids, most of them stressed and filled with play.
“They want fixed supervision particularly of their bathroom, washing and likewise consuming and leisure habits.”
The mother and father urged the federal authorities to enhance infrastructure, particularly water and WASH services, instructing high quality, academics/ employees perspective, and academic requirements within the faculty and different faculties throughout the nation.
A relative whose nephew was amongst these taken to LUTH for therapy on Saturday, informed NAN, “Let’s hold praying for the youngsters.
“My sister is panicking and distraught particularly since she heard a scholar died from the illness in December.
“I consider that every one might be properly.
”Nevertheless, the federal authorities and the college’s administration ought to look extra into enhancing the requirements of KCL and, certainly, all unity colleges.
“The PTA ought to work to higher the lot of colleges and college students and never cowl up issues that aren’t proper.
“These colleges are excellent and shouldn’t be allowed to constantly fall under requirements throughout”.
Reacting, the Public Relations Officer, King’s School Mother and father Academics Affiliation (PRO, KCPTA), Ngozi Ogbonna, in a message to oldsters, known as for calm, assuring that efforts had been ongoing to regulate the scenario.
Mrs Ogbonna in her message titled, “Situation of Diphtheria Illness in Annex Campus, King’s School”, stated the faculty administration and PTA EXCO are collaborating to handle the scenario.
“As a part of their efforts, the administration and PTA EXCO met and contacted the related authorities well being businesses, who, in collaboration, suggested that booster doses of vaccines needs to be administered to the scholars.
“Nevertheless, a few of the college students who manifested signs have been remoted, taken to LUTH for prognosis and outcomes awaited.
“Different college students who manifest signs subsequently could be taken to LUTH accordingly, and fogeys contacted for follow-up.
“Delegates of the World Well being Organisation visited the Annex Campus this night to play their very own position in controlling the scenario.
“On this word, we, due to this fact, implore mother and father to stay calm and prayerful as all the pieces is beneath management.
“We will overcome,” Mrs Ogbonna stated in her message.
Based on WHO, diphtheria is a contagious illness that’s brought on by toxin-producing micro organism. It could actually unfold from individual to individual when an contaminated particular person coughs or sneezes.
The diphtheria toxin damages the respiratory tract and may unfold all through the physique. Widespread signs embrace fever, sore throat, and swelling of the neck glands.
Diphtheria can have an effect on anybody however is commonest in unvaccinated kids.
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The well being company stated overcrowding in residential camps will increase the chance of an infection, emphasising that the chance of problems or loss of life decreases significantly if applicable therapy is supplied early in the middle of sickness.
On prevention, WHO stated diphtheria may be prevented by vaccines which are typically given together with tetanus and pertussis and different illnesses.
It recommends giving a complete of six diphtheria-containing vaccine doses beginning at six weeks of age via adolescence to supply long-term safety.
The Nigeria Centre for Illness Management and Prevention (NCDC) stated the nation continues to grapple with a diphtheria outbreak.
NCDC stated that 41,336 suspected instances of diphtheria had been reported from 37 states between Epidemiological Week 19, 2022, and Epidemiological Week 4, 2025.
(NAN)
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