Diphtheria: Kano Won’t Shut Schools, Parents Urge Vigilance

The Kano State government has ruled out the closure or postponement of schools over the ongoing outbreak of diphtheria, saying the current situation in the state does not warrant keeping children away from school.

The state Ministry of Health, through its spokesperson, Nabilus Kofar-Naisa, said schools would resume as scheduled despite decisions by some states, including Plateau, to postpone resumption over concerns about the disease.

Kofar-Naisa, however, urged parents to closely monitor their children for symptoms of diphtheria and ensure that suspected cases were promptly taken to health facilities for treatment.

He stressed that children showing symptoms should not be allowed to mix with others until they had received appropriate medical attention.

“Just as neighbouring states are postponing school resumption, Kano State will resume because of the current rate we have in Kano, so children won’t be kept out of school,” he said.

He added, “What we want is for parents to keep a close eye on their children. Anyone who appears to have the symptoms mentioned shouldn’t be allowed to mix with other children; make sure they are taken to the hospital for treatment.”

Reacting to the development, a parent, Esther Emmanuel, said she was concerned about reports of diphtheria but expressed optimism that the government would take necessary measures to protect pupils as schools resume on Monday.

Emmanuel, however, urged the government to intensify surveillance and follow up in areas with high incidence of the disease to prevent its spread among schoolchildren.

Another parent, Ramatu Musa, said her children would return to school as scheduled, noting that the government had not extended the holiday.

Musa argued that prolonged school closure could disrupt academic activities, especially as there was no certainty over when the outbreak would end.

She said, “Unnecessary closure will cause delays in the children’s academics because nobody knows when the whole thing will be over. I don’t think closing schools is necessary.”