The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has highlighted the need for a change of policy in the vaccination of students in boarding schools.
Abayomi, who led the state delegation on an inspection/visit to the King’s College Lagos (KCL) Annex in Victoria Island, told newsmen that the recent outbreak of diphtheria fever in the school was a wake up call.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government’s moves came following NAN’s report making public the outbreak of diphtheria in the school.
Abayomi said:” We learn lessons from what has happened here and we extend those lessons to other schools and we extend those lessons to our policies as government.
“What is this event going to do to change the policy or vaccination of boarding school students, crowdedness, number of children per class, number of children inside the boarding houses, access to water, toilets and available facility and the ratio to students?.
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“It is all a learning experience for us as government and so, we are not here to play; we are here to take things very seriously to make sure that our kids are safe and well.
“The fact that children are in a school should not expose them to sickness and ill health”.
He added that students at the KCL main campus would also be vaccinated to avoid any possible case of the diseases.
The commissioner also urged parents not entertain any fear, assuring them that the situation was already under control.
Abayomi, however, extended the state government condolences to the family of a student who died few days ago due to the outbreak.
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According to WHO, diphtheria is a contagious disease that is caused by toxin-producing bacteria.
It can spread from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The diphtheria toxin causes damage to the respiratory tract and can spread throughout the body.
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Common symptoms include fever, sore throat and swelling of the neck glands.
Diphtheria can affect anyone but is most common in unvaccinated children.
The health agency said overcrowding in residential camps increases the risk of infection, emphasising that the risk of complications or death decreases considerably if appropriate treatment is provided early in the course of illness.
