Ebola: Plateau Government Begins Distribution of Test Kits to Schools

Pankshin (NAN) – The Plateau Government said it would begin the distribution of Ebola test kits to all schools in the state on Wednesday.

Fom Dakwak, the state Commissioner for Health, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Pankshin, Plateau, that the kits purchased by the government had arrived.

He said that the distribution became necessary because the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Plateau chapter, had insisted that schools would not resume until the kits were provided.

The union, through its Chairman, Gunshin Yarlings, had directed teachers not to comply with the Sept. 22 resumption date issued by the Federal Government until the kit were provided in all the schools.

Teachers in the Plateau central and southern zones, who showed up in schools on Monday, were chased away by union officials.

Leestock Edward, Chairman, NUT Pankshin Local Government branch, said: “We have to ensure that all schools remain closed until the health kit to test pupils and students are provided in the schools.

“We heard that N97 million had been provided for the kit, yet we did not see anything up to September 22nd that schools were to resume; so we told our members to stay at home.”

But the health commissioner said that all the equipment, including thermometers, hand gloves and sterilizers had been purchased and would be distributed without delay.

“It is our hope that the equipment would be very effective to go round all the 17 local governments of the state. “

Nandom Dashe, Commissioner for Education, said that the ministry was worried over the non resumption of schools over the issue.

“The government is so happy that the Ebola kits have arrived in the state and distribution has commenced in earnest,” he said.

Dashe called on the NUT officials to call off their strike since the distribution would begin on Wednesday.

He said anything that would affect the academic calendar of the state should be discarded and called on the teachers to return to school.

Responding, Yarlings said “once we are sure all the schools have received their kit, we shall definitely ask our members to resume.”

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