The Lagos State Government has convened an emergency meeting with key health stakeholders following concerns over a suspected outbreak of diphtheria at King’s College, Lagos.
According to the PUNCH, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, confirmed this on Sunday that the meeting involved representatives from the World Health Organisation, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Lagos State Ministry of Health, and the state’s surveillance team.
“We are working on it. We’ll be having a meeting in about an hour, and we’ll be able to let the press know. So once we get our facts, we’ll definitely let the press know. We’ll be having our meeting involving the surveillance team, the NCDC, WHO, Ministry of Health.”
She also stated that Governor Sanwo-Olu would be briefed on developments.
The suspected outbreak has sparked panic among parents, who stated that poor sanitary conditions at the school could be responsible.
A concerned parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, criticised the school management for not acting swiftly and for keeping parents in the dark.
“If there are no cases, why are the students mandated to wear nose masks, and some of them taken to Lagos University Teaching Hospital for treatment?
“There were cases late last year. We heard that officials of the World Health Organisation were in the school yesterday (Saturday) to sensitise the students on preventive measures against diphtheria. Why is the school secretive about the issue?
“Parents had complained several times about the poor environmental sanitation of the school and toilets, including food given to the students. Students even complain about some members of the food committee and what they do.
“A few weeks ago, some parents raised concerns that their children had fallen sick and were diagnosed with diphtheria at the hospital. Even some PTA Exco don’t like parents to openly complain about such.”
Reports also indicate that the school recently asked parents to sign a consent form allowing their children to receive diphtheria vaccines on campus, a move done in collaboration with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board and Eti-Osa Local Government.
Some parents have also raised concerns over the school clinic’s capacity to handle medical emergencies.
Two parents confirmed that their sons had been hospitalised and treated for diphtheria in December.
“It was by God’s grace that my son survived. I was called to pick him up. He complained of a sore throat. His neck was swollen, and he had a high fever. When we got to the hospital, he was on admission for over a week. In fact, there was another student who was hospitalised for the same ailment at the same time, but he didn’t pull through,” one of the parents recounted.
Another relative, whose nephew was taken to LUTH for treatment on Saturday, urged Nigerians to pray for the affected students.
“Let’s keep praying for the children. My sister is panicking and distraught, especially since she heard a student died from the disease in December.
“I believe that all will be well. However, the Federal Government and school management should look more into improving the standards of KCL and indeed all unity schools.
“The PTA should work to better the lot of schools and students and not cover up things that aren’t right.”
Reacting to the growing concerns, the Public Relations Officer of the King’s College Parents Teachers Association,Ngozi Ogbonna, urged parents to remain calm, assuring them that efforts were being made to contain the situation.
In a message titled “Issue of Diphtheria Disease in Annex Campus, King’s College,” Ogbonna stated that both the college management and PTA leadership were working closely with health authorities.
“As part of their efforts, the management and PTA exco met and contacted the relevant government health agencies, who, in collaboration, advised that booster doses of vaccines should be administered to the students.
“However, some of the students who manifested symptoms have been isolated, taken to LUTH for diagnosis and results awaited.
“Other students who manifest symptoms subsequently would be taken to LUTH accordingly, and parents contacted for follow-up.
“Delegates of the World Health Organisation visited the Annex Campus this evening to play their own role in controlling the situation.
“On this note, we, therefore, implore parents to remain calm and prayerful as everything is under control. We shall overcome.”
