Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has said that there is no evidence of major infection or outbreak of epidemic at the Queens College in Lagos.
Abayomi, who disclosed this at the weekend after an on-site inspection of facilities in the School, expressed satisfaction at the general environment of the school as well as the state of facilities available for use by students and teachers.
“I came here to have an idea of how many girls are experiencing any illnesses in light of the recent report of an excess of upper respiratory tract infection in the last week or two but I have gone round; I have been into the sickbay and through all the dormitories, I have interacted with all the girls; very clever, bright and happy girls and we haven’t really seen any evidence of major infection in the School; all the students look very happy and very healthy and I am happy that things are going on well here” Abayomi said.
He added that “I am very happy that whatever had happened in the last two or three weeks, we have seen that it has significantly subsided. The sickbay doesn’t have many students in it. We only had two or three cases this morning of cough or cold which is not to be unexpected”.
The Commissioner, who was accompanied on the tour by the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Ismail Abdul-Salam; the School Principal,
Mrs. Tokunbo Yakubu-Oyinloye; Vice Principals, Special Duties and Student Affairs, Mr. Adeyanju Adewale and Mrs. Chinyere Okeke; Resident Doctor, Dr. Fatimah Ahmadu and the Head Girl, Miss Rachael Alatise, however, noted that there is need for upgrade of some facilities as well as improvement in some areas.
“We’ve examined the water system, the kitchen and the bathrooms; by and large I am satisfied. The water is clean, I drank some myself. I saw where they prepare the food and it looks satisfactory. There is a need for a little bit of work and we are making our recommendations known but by and large, I am happy with the general environment of the school” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, the resident physician of Queens College, Dr. Fatimah Ahmadu noted that there is no outbreak of epidemic or infection in the school, explaining that students who came down with flu, cough and catarrh in the course of the week since resumption were treated appropriately while those with high fever were referred for further assessment.
She said officials of the Federal and State Ministries of Health, as well as Environmental Health Officers of the Local Government, had paid a visit to the school to see things first hand, stressing that there is no need for fear or panic by the parents or the public.
