DECONTAMINATION/DISINFECTION OF SCHOOLS: MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT TO BEGIN EXERCISE IMMEDIATELY UPON RESUMPTION FROM EID-EL-KABIR BREAK

Today, the Honourable Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar held a press briefing in Kaduna on the decontamination/disinfection of schools by the Federal Ministry of Environment. The briefing comes after the announcement was made by the Federal Ministry of Education that schools will be reopening on August 4th, 2020.

The Minister stated that the Federal Ministry of Environment and Federal Ministry of Education were collaborating to put in place a sustainable system for decontamination/disinfection of schools nationwide. 

"This system will protect the health of learners and their care-givers at all educational levels as well as reassure parents of the safety and well being of their wards," said Dr. Abubakar. 

The Minister explained that the exercise will be started in Federal Government Colleges (Unity Schools) and some of the schools that will host the Senior School Certificate Examination, numbering about 19,000. The decontamination/disinfection will begin in Unity Schools immediately after the Eid el Kabir break.

To minimize exposure at the examination centers, Environmental Health Officers (EHO) will establish surveillance desks to ensure adherence to Covid-19 guidelines.

Dr. Abubakar urged state Governments and Private school proprietors to ensure regular decontamination/disinfection of schools by licensed EHOs because only decontamination certificates issued by licensed professionals are valid. 

The Minister stated that in a bid to ensure evidence based service and also determine the pre and post treatment virulence of surfaces and environments, the Ministry will be introducing a contamination meter as a means of verification. In this regard, Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) meters will be deployed in order to obtain real time contamination values on the go. 

Disturbed by the recent lackadaisical attitude being exhibited towards the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister decided to seize the opportunity to reiterate the importance of adhering to all safety protocols and guidelines advised by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 and medical experts. He stressed that it was too early to think of letting down one's guard as far as safety protocols and guidelines are concerned. 

Barr. Farid Sani Labaran 

Special Assistant to the Hon. Minister of Environment 

(Admin and Media)

30th July, 2020.