Reopening Schools Dangerous, Medical Unions Caution

• Reopening schools
• MEDICAL unions – the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), have cautioned the Federal Government on the planned reopening of schools on January 18.

They urged the government to ensure a balance between resumption and adherence to the extant safety protocols as stipulated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The unions noted with dismay the utter disregard to the safety measures by some Nigerians.

According to them, reopening schools without proper sensitisation and enforcement of safety and non-pharmaceutical interventions like regular hand washing or used of sanitisers, proper wearing of face masks and maintenance of social and physical distancing, will only put school children at the risk of COVID-19 infections.

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In a chat with The Nation, NMA President Prof Innocent Ujah said: “Unfortunately with covid-19 we do not know the right time.

The reality is that parents want their children to go to school, and the school proprietors, particularly the private sector, want their schools to be reopened.

“What we are saying is that we do not know the definite outcome of COVID-19; we do not know how long it is going to stay for. So, it is appropriate to balance this with the national economy including schooling.

“But there is something that we should do which we are not doing.

If we comply with the NCDC protocol, which will provide the basic requirements and compliance, then we can say that we will reduce the likely infectivity for covid-19.

The way it is now, that cannot be guaranteed. The government should enforce the compliance so that when the schools resume, we do not subject our children and teachers to unnecessary risks.”

To NARD President Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, reopening of schools is danger in the waiting.

He said: “I feel that the government is making a mistake with the recent proposed opening of schools in the next few days.

It will be insensitive because they have not made any provision as ways of precautionary measures to stop the second wave of the COVID-19, and they have not given instructions to any institution be it schools, nurses and military among others.