Alleged Diarrhea Outbreak: Health Ministry to Investigate Cause of Death of Two Students

Martins Ifijeh

The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has called on the parents and students of the Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, and concerned Nigerians to remain calm, as he had directed the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Community Health, and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, to investigate and unravel the causes of death of two students of the school.

In a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health, it was gathered that the Minister, who was in Lagos to commission the Secretariat of the West Africa College of Surgeons obtained a distress call on an alleged outbreak of diarrhoea disease at Queens College, Yaba, Lagos while at the Secretariat of the West Africa College of Surgeons.

According to the statement, the Minister diverted his convoy to visit the School in the company of the Chief Medical Director, LUTH and met the representative of Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Erinosho and the Principal, Dr. (Mrs) Lami Amodu and her staff.

He was told the school was currently on mid-term break but there were two reported deaths of students at home. One due to febrile illness and cause of the second was unknown.

Following his interaction, the Minister has directed the officials of the Ministry of Health, Community Health, and LUTH to ascertain the cause of death of the students, inspect the school environment including the kitchen, examine the source of water supply and text its suitability for human consumption and also visit the bereaved families.

The report of investigation will be forwarded to the Minister of Education who has been informed on the steps taken, as the Minister assured government was on top of the situation.

It was gathered that the nurse in charge prior to mid-term break that started yesterday (Wednesday), said no student was admitted at the sick bay for any diarrhoea disease.