- Rights commission threatens to prosecute proprietors
Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that government, based on advice from a team of experts, was looking at reviewing the October 13 resumption date early fixed for schoolchildren to go back to classes.
The NCE, comprising the minister and the commissioners for education in the 36 states of the federation, had at a meeting last month, directed both public and private primary and secondary schools to remain shut until October 13 to enable the Federal Government contain the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) contagion.
Chukwu, who was joined at the briefing by Ministers of Information, Labaran Maku Transport, Umar Idris, National Planning, Abubakar Suleiman and Power (State), Mohammed Wakil, hinted that the schools might resume by middle of September.
The minister spoke just as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) warned school authorities against violating the extant school resumption date determined by the Federal Government or they would be prosecuted.
He explained that the decision to review the extension of the school resumption date was based on the recommendation of experts set up by government to look at the resolution, who advised that based on the efforts by the government to contain EVD, it was safe for pupils to resume earlier than the October 13 date.
In another development, the NHRC said it will prosecute any school proprietor that violates the October 13 resumption date for primary and secondary schools.
Speaking at a one-day public awareness on the rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) held in Abuja, the NHRC Executive Secretary, Prof. Bem Angwe, said the commission will ensure that schools comply with the directive of the Federal Government on October 13 resumption date, in the interest of Nigerian children.
While assuring that the NHRC will continue to live up to its expectation in the protection of people’s rights against violation, he warned against stigmatisation and discrimination against PLWHA.
According to the NHRC boss, it is a violation of the rights of people living with the virus if they are discriminated against or stigmatised.
On the EVD, Angwe said anybody suspected to be affected by the virus and kept in any of the isolation centres and break away will be prosecuted, because such action amounts to violation of the rights of other people.
Also speaking at the workshop, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Prof. John Idoko said stigma and discrimination are the major factors responsible for the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Idoko said stigmatising and discriminating against PLWHA amounts to destroying the fabrics of the society
NEW TELEGRAPH
No comments:
Post a Comment