How FCTA spent N100M to protect teachers, students from Ebola

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) expended a whooping N100 million naira for the procurement of Ebola kits and information materials distributed among its schools, to ensure the safety of pupils, students, teachers and administrative staff in the sector, in the wake of outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease that hit the country earlier this year.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary, FCT Education Secretariat, Mallam Kabir Usman, during the Secretariat’s 2014 annual media luncheon held at the Education Resource Center, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja.

He noted that Education Secretariat, in conjunction with the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, trained its teachers on preventive measures against the dreaded disease and how to properly use  the various equipment that were distributed.

According to the secretary, however with the expected exhaustion of these kits by March 2015, the relevant agencies in education sector of FCT should make provision for such, because 2015 budget may not have been passed before March 2015.

“The Hon. Minister approved for immediate release the sum of N100 million for the purchase and distribution of anti- Ebola kits and information materials to all schools.

“Prior to the resumption therefore, all our schools where fully equipped with temperature scanning machines, hand sanitisers, information handbills and posters on the disease and so on.

“In conjunction with the Health and Human Services Secretariat, we trained our teachers on preventive measures in fighting the disease and how to properly use the equipment that were distributed”

“We have enough to take us till March 2015, but I don’t know whether the budget would have been passed in March, I will expect the agencies to make provision (for additional Ebola kits before the 2015 budget is passed.

 “Although the virus has been eradicated in Nigeria, we are not resting on our oars as the distribution of these materials will continue until the health authorities tell us it is safe to stop,” he stressed.

Commending the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed for his unwavering commitment and support in this regard, he lauded the efforts of all school principals and heads,who ensured that their students and pupils were fully sensitised on precautionary measures against the Ebola Virus Disease.