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The management of Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, has postponed indefinitely, the resumption of the school due to a bacterial disease outbreak that has led to the death of two pupils and hospitalisation of many others.
The school had announced that parents can return their wards to school on Sunday March 19 but reports now have it that the Principal, Mrs Aduke Are, at the instance of the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, later announced that the school will remain closed till further notice.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr.Jide Idris last Thursday at a news conference advised that the School resumption “be delayed till appropriate measures have been put in place for the safety of the students”.
According to reports, a recent laboratory report showed that since the beginning of January 2017, several students of the institution have been treated for various pipe borne water and other diseases.
Vanguard reports that “a visit to the school to monitor the preparedness of the management and staff for the expected resumption of students yesterday, showed there was a meeting of some parents with the Principal. The parents numbering about 30 were in the School to meet with the Principal and get first hand information about the resumption as well as see what measures have been put in place to safeguard the welfare and safety of their wards”.
Mrs. Are while addressing the parents assured them that management had been following all the recommendations by the Lagos State Ministry of Health to ensure the safety of the students when they return to the boarding school.
She told the parents that the water treatment plant has been certified while the 500ft deep industrial bore hole which serves as the main source of water for the entire premises has also been revamped and is functioning.
She also told the parents that a new clinic has been set up to support the existing sick bay and arrangements are on to ensure regular visits by qualified medical doctor to attend to all students. Mrs. Are also assured parents that plans are being concluded to secure the continuous medical use of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH.
However, after the meeting with the Principal, some parents took a tour of the school and hostels to see the level of work done and came back to request the Principal to halt the Sunday resumption of all students to the hostels till all on-going site works were completed.
Works were also found to be on-going at the Dining Hall where the tables were being painted, the sewage system of the School was also being fixed, electrical fittings and wiring of the School compound was also on-going at the time of visit.