Essau SSS sensitize teachers, students on Ebola disease

David Gomez was speaking recently at a sensitization meeting held the school grounds in Essau in the North Bank Region, adding that creating awareness in students and teachers was fundamental in the attainment of quality teaching and learning.

The school lauded the efforts of Essau Major Health Centre in building partnership with the school, noting that it would enhance personal hygiene and sound environmental management at the school and community levels.

Gomez used the occasion to call on students to be proactive in raising more public awareness on the Ebola disease at the community level.

The school principal commended the public health officers for creating awareness in the students, which he called timely.

He said the speed and the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa is unprecedented, which led to the closure of many borders.

He spoke of his school’s commitment to strengthen relations with the health sector and support in the prevention of the outbreak of the Ebola virus in the country.

Ebrima Njie and Kaddy Ceesay, public health officers at Essau Health Centre, thanked the school management for complementing the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Ebola prevention.

The sensitization activity, according to public health officials, would contribute to a Gambia free of Ebola.

The fight against Ebola calls for the concerted efforts of all, and the signs and symptoms include high fever, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, sore throat, and bleeding, they said.

The public health officials said the students should practise hand washing with soap, and report any suspected cases to the health facility for investigation.

Cherno Jawara, assistant head-boy of the school, thanked the public health officers for their support in building their understanding on it mode of prevention.

He assured all of the students’ commitment to promote personal hygiene and hand-washing.

The one-day sensitization campaign, according to Ebrima Njie, was aimed at raising awareness among the students on the Ebola virus.

He spoke at length about the impact of the Ebola disease on human health.

The first outbreak of the disease occurred in 1976 with detected cases in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which continued to quickly spread in 2014.

Mr Njie, meanwhile, further pointed out that the Ebola virus disease can be quickly transmitted.

Njie added that the virus could also be spread through contact with an infected person, dead bodies, and sharing of materials with an infected person.

He called on the students to join hands with the health personnel and introduce hand-washing with soap at the community level, and to report on any suspected case to the nearest health facility.

He underscored the Health ministry’s commitment in the prevention of the disease, and reaffirmed the health workers function in conducting Ebola case surveillance.

Kaddy Ceesay also dilated on the prevention of the disease, and urged the students to serve as agents for creating awareness and keep their environment hygienic.