By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Borno State Government has directed all public and private schools across the state to immediately implement comprehensive cholera prevention and control measures following the confirmation of a cholera outbreak in Maiduguri and surrounding communities.
The directive was issued by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, who described the situation as a public health emergency requiring swift and coordinated action from stakeholders within the education sector.
In a statement released on Monday, the commissioner instructed Education Secretaries, school administrators, principals and head teachers to activate epidemic response protocols in line with guidelines provided by health authorities.
According to Wakilbe, the highly contagious nature of cholera, particularly in densely populated environments such as schools, necessitates heightened vigilance to protect students, teachers and support staff.
“Following the confirmed cholera outbreak in Maiduguri and neighbouring communities, all schools are required to immediately activate their Epidemic Prevention and Control Plans in accordance with directives from the Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The safety and wellbeing of students and staff remain paramount,” he stated.
As part of the response measures, schools have been directed to strengthen Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practices by ensuring regular handwashing with soap and clean water, establishing adequate handwashing facilities, and providing access to safe drinking water.
The commissioner also ordered a ban on the sale and consumption of unpackaged water and food items sourced from unapproved vendors within school premises.
In addition, school authorities were instructed to enforce strict food hygiene standards, conduct routine environmental sanitation exercises, maintain proper waste disposal systems and ensure drainage channels are kept clean to minimise the risk of contamination.
Wakilbe further directed schools to intensify health surveillance and promptly report any suspected cases of cholera to relevant health authorities.
He said students or staff exhibiting symptoms such as severe diarrhoea, vomiting or signs of dehydration must be isolated immediately and referred for urgent medical attention.
“Any suspected cholera case must be reported within two hours to the nearest Primary Health Care Centre, the Local Government Disease Surveillance Officer and the Ministry for prompt intervention,” he said.
To strengthen awareness and prevention efforts, schools have also been instructed to organise emergency sensitisation programmes through assemblies, classroom engagements and other educational platforms to promote proper hygiene practices and cholera prevention measures among students.
The commissioner warned that compliance with the directive would be strictly enforced through regular and unscheduled inspections across educational institutions in the state.
He stressed that any act of negligence or failure to implement the prescribed measures would attract appropriate sanctions.
“This is a critical public health directive and not a routine administrative instruction. Compliance is mandatory and will be closely monitored through unannounced inspections. We must collectively safeguard our children and prevent the spread of cholera within our schools and communities,” Wakilbe emphasised.
The commissioner called on school authorities, parents, community leaders and other stakeholders to work closely with health officials in ensuring the effective implementation of the preventive measures aimed at protecting lives and maintaining a safe learning environment across Borno State.
