The Niger State Government on Wednesday said it has earmarked N100 million for the training of school teachers on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) prevention strategies.
Alhaji Danladi Abdulhameed, the state Commissioner for Education, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the training would commence on Thursday Sept. 25.
Abdulhameed said that 19 centres had been designated for the exercise to cover the 25 local government areas of the state.
He explained that part of fund would be used to provide health facilities in public and private primary and secondary schools in the state.
“We are working in conjunction with Schools Management Board as well as private schools proprietors to ensure that adequate measures are taken before schools resumed.
“The medical equipment we procured will be available next week, which is a clear one week before resumption of our children.
“The government has also taken upon itself to intervene on catering for any child that is ill when the parent reports appropriately to forestall any lapses.
“These are our children; they are only on break with the parents.
“The state government will give schools, over 4,000 of them (both private and public), two thermometres each, provide portable water in the schools and hand washing items”, he said.
Abdulhameed said that the government would continue to make personal hygiene a culture in schools even after the elimination of the EVD threat in the state.
NAN reports that the state was among the states that did not re-open schools on Sept. 22.
The government said it took the position because of the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festivities and to meet the EVD prevention requirements. (NAN)
