Jigawa State Ministry of Health has directed schools and health authorities across the state to intensify measures to prevent the spread of acute viral conjunctivitis, commonly known as Apollo.
The directive followed reported outbreaks of the eye infection in some communities across the state, with schools scheduled to resume on Monday.
In a statement signed by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr. Abubakar D. Said Kanya, on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, the ministry called for immediate, coordinated action to prevent further transmission, detect cases early, and ensure prompt treatment.
The ministry directed all schools to strengthen health education and reinforce preventive measures among students, teachers, and other school personnel.
It advised students and school staff to wash their hands frequently with soap and clean water and to avoid touching or rubbing their eyes, particularly with unwashed hands.
They were also warned against sharing towels, handkerchiefs, face towels, pillows, cosmetics, eye drops, medicines, and other personal items that could spread the infection.
It advised students who develop symptoms of conjunctivitis to report immediately to their teachers or school authorities and to seek medical attention at the nearest health facility.
The ministry also directed schools to discourage close contact with persons showing symptoms of red or infected eyes.
At the local government level, Primary Healthcare Managers and Heads of WASH Departments were directed to coordinate the response in collaboration with NTDs/Primary Eye Care Coordinators, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs), Health Promotion Officers, and relevant health facility personnel.
The teams are expected to conduct targeted sensitisation and active case identification in schools and affected communities, particularly in areas where cases have been reported.
The ministry also directed DSNOs to strengthen surveillance for acute viral conjunctivitis and ensure that suspected outbreaks or unusual increases in cases are promptly reported through established surveillance channels.
Schools were equally encouraged to notify health authorities immediately whenever clusters of suspected cases are identified.
To facilitate treatment, the Commissioner for Health directed that essential medicines be made immediately available to manage affected students.
Accordingly, JiPHARMA was directed to make the necessary supplies available at its headquarters in Dutse and at three stores for onward distribution to the 27 local government areas.
Deputy Directors responsible for Essential Drugs were directed to liaise with NTDs/Primary Eye Care Coordinators and DSNOs to prepare and submit requests to the nearest JiPHARMA store or office.
The ministry said LGA teams must ensure required medicines are promptly requested based on the situation in their respective areas, collected, and distributed to appropriate health facilities.
They were also directed to ensure that affected students are referred to and treated at the nearest appropriate health facility, while maintaining adequate stocks in facilities serving schools in affected areas.
The ministry further directed health authorities to monitor medicine consumption and replenishment needs, and to report developments as necessary.
It stressed that the response must be integrated and coordinated rather than implemented as separate activities, with LGA PHC Managers providing overall leadership and technical support from the relevant health officers.
The ministry said the immediate priority was to “prevent transmission, detect cases early, refer promptly, treat appropriately, and report and monitor.”
It urged all concerned authorities to treat the directive as urgent, particularly in view of the resumption of schools on Monday.
-THE NATION
