BENIN – The Edo State House of Assembly Committee on Health on Monday gave a one week ultimatum to all its local government chairmen to procure infrared thermometer for distribution to all schools in their localities.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Oloruntoba Bamidele, gave the ultimatum during a meeting with 11 of the 18 local government chairmen and coordinators of primary health care centres in Benin.
Bamidele said the infrared thermometer would enable the various schools to screen students for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
He directed the chairmen to procure and distribute the screening machines to hospitals and other public places in the rural areas.
The House Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu said: “It seems to us that you are not prepared for the resumption of schools. It is not safe to open the schools in your local government areas because they are not secure. [eap_ad_1] “I think that any school without that infrared thermometer shall be closed down because prevention is better than cure.’’
According to Shaibu, any local government chairman that is not ready for resumption should communicate to the state government and schools in the council area will be closed down.
He said “at the moment there is no Ebola in the state but measures must be put in place to ensure that the disease is prevented and curtailed in case of an outbreak.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Ovia North East Local Council, Mrs Lucy Omagbon, said she had carried out sensitisation campaigns on the disease round her local government.
According to Omagbon, as part of measures to prevent the disease, she leads the campaign to the market places and teaches the market women how to maintain good hygiene by washing their hands.
The committee chairman commended Omagbon for taking proactive measures to procure over 50 thermometers for schools and other public places.
Bamidele said that the chairmen should also provide water and carry out enlightenment campaigns in the local languages in their respective local government areas. (NAN)
[eap_ad_4]
