All schools in Anambra closed over alleged monkeypox injection

All schools

in Anambra clos

ed over

alleged monkeypox

injection

October 11, 2017

Suzy Oruya

All schools in Anambra State were

hurriedly shut on Wednesday as

parents rushed to withdraw their

children from school over a rumour

of alleged monkeypox injections on

pupils by soldiers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

reported that panic overshadowed

the commencement of the Nigerian

Army free medical outreach for

civilians in Anambra on

Wednesday, following social media

reports that soldiers were injecting

school children with dangerous

substances.

NAN learnt that the report, which is

apparently false, forced schools to

send pupils and students home

while parents rushed to schools to

pick their children and wards out of

fear.

However, the state’s

Commissioner for Health, Dr

Joseph Akabuike, while dismissing

the social media reports, explained

the pandemonium was caused by

fears of monkeypox disease,

currently reported in some parts of

the country.

“We rushed down immediately we

heard the rumour. All the

instruments being used by the

army for the free medical mission

are all life-saving instruments.

“So we want to allay the fear of the

public. They should not be afraid;

rather we should count ourselves

lucky to receive such free

treatment.”

Akabuike commended the army for

the gesture, assuring that the State

Government would provide needed

support to make the outreach

successful.

In a remark, the General Officer

Commanding (GOC) 82 Division

Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed

Abubakar, explained that the

exercise was part of Operation

Python Dance II in the South-East.

Represented by Brig.-Gen. J.O.

Ugwuoke, the GOC said the

exercise had taken place in Enugu,

Imo, Ebony, Abia and was now in

Anambra.

Abubakar advised members of the

public to discountenance the

rumour that soldiers were forcing

injections on pupils from school to

school.

He said the one-day medical

mission had already benefited over

300 patients, who were being

treated for various ailments with

drugs provided free.

“The presence of community

leaders and State Government

representatives signify that there is nothing harmful about the exercise. “We are here purely on a noble mission free medical service. “In addition, we are giving grants and food items to the people, who are in need of them.

“These are rumours and I think as

Nigerians, we need to desist from

peddling rumours because it will

not do us any good,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Ikenna

Ofodeme, the Transition

Committee Chairman of Ekwusigo

Local Government Council,

commended the army for locating

the free mission in the area.

Ofodeme urged members of the

populace to turn out for the free

medical service in their own

interest.

Tribune