Anxiety has gripped parents of students at King’s College, Lagos, following a diphtheria outbreak that has claimed the life of a 12-year-old student.
The outbreak has led to some parents asking their wards to stay at home for now, while others are calling for a meeting of the Parent Teacher Association (PTI) to assess the situation.
The Lagos State government has started a mass vaccination of students in the two campuses of the school on Victoria and Lagos Island.
A concerned parent, Nkechim jolly, said the assurances being given by the leadership of the PTA might not be enough, as parents want an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
Nkechi, a former member of the executive of the PTA, suggested that stringent health measures be put in place in the school and that more facilities be provided to prevent overcrowding in the classrooms and hostilities.
“Last December, a student also died and many people suspected that it was due to the same disease. The rot started long ago and the current management inherited it. But that is not to say it must continue. The annex on Victoria Island is for the Junior Secondary School classes, while the Senior Secondary School is on Lagos Island.
“Without being a medical personnel, one can say the incident was due to unsanitary condition of the classrooms and hostels. They are simply overcrowded. We gathered that 34 students showed the symptoms of the disease with 14 being serious cases. We hope the situation will be brought under control as soon as possible,” she stated.
