We’re Committed To Fight Against Covid-19, RSG Assures …As Schools Reopen, Today

The Rivers State Government has reassured its commitment to the fight against Coronavirus, just as schools in the state reopen, today.
This followed the distribution of non-pharmaceutical and safety materials to over 500 public secondary schools in the state by the government.
Addressing principals during the distribution, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof Kaniye Ebeku, said that the Rivers State Government was concerned about the safety of students as schools reopen.
He said that the distribution of the materials ahead of schools’ reopening was part of government’s efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the state.
Ebeku urged the principals to ensure proper use of the items, warning that schools that contravene Covid-19 guidelines would be sanctioned.
He said, “The distribution of Covid-19 non-pharmaceutical and sanitary materials demonstrates the commitment of His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, to the fight against Covid-19.
“We are looking forward eagerly for students to return to schools on Monday (today), and my candid advice to all of them is to ensure full compliance with Covid-19 protocols.
“If any head of school does not enforce Covid-19 protocols as enacted and explained to them, the consequences will be disastrous for such a person because any person who seeks to compromise the health of the society and flouts the directives of the state government will not be condoned”.
Also speaking, Chairman of the seven-man State Executive Council Task Force on the Enforcement of Covid-19 Protocols in schools, Amb Desmond Akawor, advised the principals to enforce compliance of all directives in their various schools.
Akawor said, “We have all agreed that the schools should reopen. Some of us that will be going to your schools are just to confirm whether certain things that are to come from government are in place.
“Please, whatever that is made available, take them, and go back to your schools, and ensure that the students comply with all the protocols.
“Let us ensure that continuously, this crusade is carried out to the grassroots so that our people will know. Once you are protected and your brother is protected, it cannot spread” Akawor explained.
On his part, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Princewill Chike, sensitized the principals on the dangers of any contact with the virus, warning that spread of the virus would be easy, if there was laxity among the people.
Chike admonished the principals not to live in denial of the existence of the virus, explaining that response to the Covid-19 guidelines impedes the spread.
He said, “Whatever you believe, for the sake of the students, teachers and those under you, do not say, ‘Covid-19 does not exist’.
“Covid-19 is an assault on mankind. We are all at risk, and that risk is that your age is there and it is not a good sign. The effects of this virus may not fully be seen today. What we see around the world is a tip of the iceberg.
“Tell the children that the virus has no friend, does not respect age, height or religion. The pandemic is all over the world, and we are praying that another wave does not come around.
“If we come to any school, and your people are not wearing masks, I will take your picture, and I will send it to the governor. Be rest assured that we will send you out because you are a problem to every other person”, he warned.
Speaking on behalf of principals of public schools, President, Rivers State Chapter of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, Mr. Austin Iroegbu, thanked the state government for the gesture.
Austin said, “We want to sincerely thank the governor for providing these materials we are seeing today.
“This is not the first time the government is providing materials like this. When we were about starting the West African School Certificate Examinations (WASCE), materials for Covid-19 were provided for senior secondary schools. Now, we want to reopen, more materials are now being brought for senior and junior secondary schools.
“There are only very few states which have done what our government is doing today. We want to say ‘thank you very much’, and God bless everyone that has made this possible”, he added.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana