SHS students hail Ebola screening exercise

Some senior high school (SHS) students have hailed the collaborative efforts of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to take them through Ebola screening to help detect the disease and prevent its spread in the country.

 They said although the screening formalities were largely based on the filling of forms, the initiative was good, as it created awareness among students of the need to devise measures to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

The students, who said this in separate interviews with the Junior Graphic during visits to their schools to ascertain whether SHSs had complied with a GES directive to screen students, noted that the deadly nature of the disease required a sustained preventive campaign to fight its spread.

The students interviewed in Accra were from the Presbyterian Boys’ SHS (PRESEC), Legon, Achimota School, Accra Girls’ SHS and Accra Academy. 

During the visits, it was realised that only Achimota School had taken the temperature of some of its students, apart from asking them to fill forms on their background and issues relating to the disease.

“We were only complying with the GES directive,” the Headmistress of the school, Mrs Beatrice Adom said, adding that 10 queues were formed to ensure a smooth screening exercise.

A student of PRESEC, Master Daniel Baidoo, said although the students were yet to undertake the exercise, the school authorities had told them that they would go through the process when the rest of the students arrived at school.

“We have neither filled any forms on Ebola nor had our temperature taken. But the school authorities say we will be going through some exercises when the rest of our mates report to school,” he said.

Master Jeremy Sackey, also of PRESEC, said asking students questions related to the Ebola virus was good, as it would put them on their guard in the event of the disease breaking out in the country.

Ms Rebecca Ampomah of the Achimota School said she had limited her interaction with friends, regularly washed her hands, as well as used a hand sanitiser.

She, however, suggested that the GHS and the GES should go beyond the issuing of forms to undertake detailed screening.

Master Evans Obodai, also of the Achimota School, said although some students could lie while filling the forms, the steps taken by the GES and the GHS were very necessary.

“I know that the Ebola virus is deadly and can kill within a very short time,” he said. 

Ms Love Badu of the Accra Girls’ SHS said she filled a form to screen her for the Ebola virus at school and added that the students had been told that they would go through a more rigorous screening when the rest of the students reported to school.

Another student of the Accra Girls’ SHS, Ms Akushika Abossey, said Ebola was a disease that needed the “collective effort of everybody, no matter the level or status of the person”.

Two students of Accra Academy, Masters Michael Aryee and Smart Amoakoh, said on arrival in school, the students were made to fill the Ebola screening forms from the GHS.

They, however, said the exercise should have gone beyond the filling of forms to the checking of temperature, even though there were no reports of the disease in the country. 

At the OLA Senior High School in Ho, Tim Dzamboe reports that the Assistant Headmistress in charge of Welfare, Madam Patricia Kodjo, said a health talk had been organised for the students, who were asked to refrain from such practices as sharing uniforms and footwear with friends.

She said all food vendors on the school campus had also been screened  and the students advised to observe high personal hygiene and only eat food when it is hot.

She expressed reservations about the inability of the Ghana Health Service to conduct the screening exercise in view of the limited facilities available in schools.

Madam Kodjo said copies of newspaper cuttings on Ebola had been posted at vantage points in the school for the students to read.     

At the Mawuli School, the authorities had placed basins of water at vantage points for students to wash their hands in addition to the fumigation of the entire compound before school reopened.

Michael Quaye also from Wa reports that senior high school students in the Upper West Region have attended lectures on personal hygiene and ways to avoid the spread and the contraction of the Ebola virus.