Some schools are demanding for ‘Ebola Discharge certificates’ from Parents?
Although Nigeria has been declared free of the deadly Ebola virus, it appears some schools have taken the precautionary measures further by demanding for ‘Ebola Discharge certificates from parents, before accepting students into their classes.
The action has since been described as absurd.
Usually, it is only Ebola victims who survive their stay at the Isolation centre, that are issued certificate of discharge – thus, there is no Ebola-free certificate to be flaunted by anybody.
Reacting to the development, the Incident Manager, Ebola Emergency Operations Centre, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, in a statement sent to media houses, said it was wrong for embassies and schools to ask for the certificates of fitness from pupils and the public.
“We have heard that some schools are asking parents for certificates showing that their children do not have Ebola. Some embassies have also asked for such certificates in order to deliver visas. Let us be clear, no such certificate is issued to the general public.
“Certificates are only given to people who recovered from an Ebola infection. The document certifies that
they are completely Ebola-free. In addition, people who are medically monitored for 21 days because they had contact with an infected person are given a letter acknowledging that they have not developed the disease.
“There is absolutely no need for school children and the general public to have such a certificate. What is needed is a sound understanding of how the disease is transmitted and how one can protect oneself,” he said in the statement.
