The minister of health, Prof Isaac Adewole and the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, have been summoned by the House of Representatives over the outbreak of an epidemic in Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos, which has so far claimed the lives of three students.
The two ministers, along with the principal of the school, were summoned by lawmakers on Tuesday, April 11, to explain what steps their respective ministries have taken so far to halt the situation from claiming more lives, The Punch reports.
The House invited the ministers after the majority leader of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, moved a motion calling for an urgent intervention into the health crisis in the institution which was adopted by the lawmakers.
Our source learnt that Gbajabiamila recalled that the college had faced a health crisis since January when students returned from their Christmas and New Year break.
The law maker, citing a report, traced the Queen’s College heath crisis to the contamination of the school’s water sources by pathogens.
He also noted that there was a general poor hygiene regime on the premises.
Gbajabiamila motion passed by the House, read: “The majority leader’s motion passed by the House, read, “The House is aware that the health crisis in the school has been in the news since the school resumed from the Christmas and New Year holiday in January 2017, and despite this obvious health crisis, the management of the school failed to take appropriate steps to safeguard the students.
“Instead, they concealed the facts, claiming there was no outbreak of an epidemic or death recorded in the school.“Further aware that the case of Praise Sodipo, one of the students who had been in the intensive care unit until she died on March 31, 2017, is even more pathetic as an orphan and the only child of her late parents, meaning that her family lineage had suddenly seized to exist.“Concerned that the current situation in Queens College calls for a state of public health emergency in the institution as young lives and future leaders have been lost carelessly with many more endangered; leaving parents in tears and sorrow as the benefits for sending their young daughters to school.”
Meanwhile, the minister of health, Isaac Adewole, has revealed that the death toll of those affected by the meningitis outbreak has risen to 489.
Reports has it that the minister also said 4,637 cases of cerebrospinal meningitis were recorded across the country by Monday.
The minister gave this number during an emergency meeting of northern state governors and traditional rulers on Tuesday, April 11, convened by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III.
