By Frank Momoh
The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, on Monday said the ministry will be activating 60,000
Environmental Health Emergency Volunteers Corp (EHEVC) in primary and secondary schools across the 774 Local Government Areas to effect and monitor COVID-19 protocols following the resumption of schools.
Briefing Journalists on safe post-COVID-19 reopening of schools in Abuja, the Minister acknowledged that the ministry is working in collaboration with stakeholders to realize the objectives of the Ministry of education’s guidelines on safe reopening of schools and learning facilities.
He said the guidelines have substantiated roles of education stakeholders regarding the process, risks mitigation and safety assurance, stressing that as a stakeholder, the ministry is set to play its role in the chain of events.
He said: “The Environmental Health Emergency Volunteer Corp (EHEVC), will be utilized as was done previously based on the outcome of their performance in examination cenres’ surveillance.
“This time around, I shall be activating sixty thousand (60,000) of such volunteers to cover schools in all the 774 Local Governments in the federation.”
According to him, the 60,000 will be working with other stakeholders at the sub national levels in accordance with the guidelines for the safe reopening of schools, adding that the roles of the Environment sector generally and specifically that of the Environment Health Practitioners includes participating in developing detailed protocols, establishment and maintaining prescribed hygiene standards and practices including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) provisions.
He said additional measures of temperature checks and screening, hand hygiene, access to adequate gender-segregated toilet facilities, adequately ventilated classrooms and hostel accommodation, use of face masks, proper food preparation and handling using HACCP (SOPs) as well as disposal of wastes.
He added that it is the duty of the environmental health officers to prioritize the immediate setting up of school environmental health clubs where non-existed prior to COVID-19 pandemic and as well as resuscitate those not properly functioning.
The Minister advised the Environmental Health Officers to undertake training of teachers, administrators and other education personnel on safety and hygiene measures like disinfection, safe distancing, hand hygiene, use of face masks/shield, respiratory hygiene and waste management.