“As a major stakeholder, the Ministry of Environment is set to play its role in the entire chain of events in school reopening. “We shall be activating 60,000 of such volunteers to cover schools in all the 774 local governments in the Federation,” he said. He disclosed that the health officers will be assisting all the schools to ensure compliance with COVID-19 safety measures such as compulsory use of face mask, regular hand washing, temperature checks and physical distancing.

The minister noted that stakeholders in the education need not worry about the competence of the sanitary officials who he said has proven their mettle. According to him, similar EHEVC volunteers were engaged to man environmental health surveillance desks and ensure COVID-19 compliance during the last West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the country.

“The EHEVC will be utilising as was done previously, based on the outcome of their performance in the examination centres’ surveillance. ‘’The 60,000 EHEVC will be working with other stakeholders at the sub-national levels in accordance with the guidelines for the safe re-opening of schools. “The role of the EHEVC includes participating in developing detailed protocols, establishing and maintaining prescribed Hygiene Standards and practices including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) provision.

“Additional measures for temperature checks and screening, hand hygiene, access to adequate gender-segregated toilet facilities, adequately ventilated classrooms, hotel accommodation, use of face masks and shields, proper food preparation and disposal of waste should also apply,” he said.

Source Punch Healthwise