By Sandra Kenneth
The Sokoto State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has directed principals and school administrators across the state to heighten vigilance following reported cases of diphtheria in several neighboring states.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmad Ladan Ala, issued the directive instructing school authorities to closely monitor the health status of students and staff for early signs of the highly contagious bacterial infection.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Muhammad Iya, school administrators were mandated to immediately escalate suspected cases or unusual symptoms to nearby health facilities and the state ministry for swift intervention.
“Principals are to closely monitor the health conditions of students and staff and promptly report any suspected case or unusual symptoms to the nearest health facility and the ministry for immediate attention,” the statement read.
Detailing the severity of the illness, the ministry highlighted key symptoms including sore throat, hoarseness, swollen neck glands, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and the characteristic thick grayish membrane in the throat, noting that symptoms typically manifest two to five days after exposure.
School authorities were instructed to refer any individual exhibiting symptoms to designated referral centers within the state, including the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, the Specialist Hospital, the Infectious Diseases Hospital, and the Amanawa General Hospital.
Additionally, the ministry ordered schools to enforce strict sanitary protocols, promote routine handwashing, and maintain clean learning environments. Parents and guardians were also urged to ensure their children’s routine immunization schedules are fully up to date.
Reassuring the public, the government appealed to parents, educators, and students to remain calm but alert, reiterating its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of all school communities.
