- PS Muthoni therefore said water sources must be protected, kept safe and accessible to all students and teachers.
- "Ensure all schools have an evacuation route and warning signals, and identifying areas prone to floods or landslide within their school or nearby areas," the PS said.
Image: MoH/X
The Ministry of Health has given an advisory regarding possible health risks in schools during the heavy rains.
In a statement on Saturday, PS Mary Muthoni addressed school administrators, management boards and other concerned offices.
Floods having a significant and drastic impact on the quality of education and health for students, she said the impacts are often overlooked.
"This has a negative impact on schools as a result of coming into contact with contaminated water that increases the prevalence of water-related diseases and these leads sometimes to outbreaks of infectious diseases within school communities," the statement read.
"Since floods can potentially increase the transmission of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, malaria, yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue fever among others, it is important that school management know the possible risk factors within their school settings and appropriate remedial measures," she added.
PS Muthoni therefore said water sources must be protected, kept safe and accessible to all students and teachers.
She said the most common risks associated with flooding are the contamination of drinking water facilities and stagnant water, which can be a breeding site for mosquitoes.
"Ensure all schools have an evacuation route and warning signals, and identifying areas prone to floods or landslide within their school or nearby areas," the PS said.
Muthoni advised that all should ensure all water used for drinking, cooking, bathing, brushing teeth, washing utensils and uncooked food is safe and treated with chlorine or boiled.
Consequently, to promote good hygiene practices and safe food preparation techniques, students must always wash their hands with soap and water if they have been in contact with floodwater.
Muthoni said children should never be allowed to swim in flood water.
"Students should not be allowed to walk through flooded areas and standing water. Even the smallest amount of water can bring about significant dangers. Life electric lines might have fallen in the water and can be disastrous," she said.
She said pupils should not be allowed to eat food that has come into contact with flood water as it is not safe and increases risk of water-borne diseases.
The PS noted that all pupils in mosquito-prone areas to wear trousers and long-sleeved shirts, and cover beds with mosquito nets.
The also gave an advisory to ensure all toilets and bathrooms are not dilapidated and are in good state.
"All toilets that were affected by the heavy floods should be closed, students notified and a sign closed written on it’s door. School management must cut overgrown grass in the school compound and surrounding to minimise mosquitoes, rodents and snakes breeding or hiding," Muthoni said.
She said students should be protected against advance weather, by making sure all windows and doors are working and can be closed and opened.
The school administration on the other hand she said must ensure food is well stored and kept away from moisture and rodents.
"All cooks must be medically examined and vaccinated appropriately. The school administration should be on high alert for any abnormal disease or outbreak within the school community. In case of any disease, the nearest catchment facility should be notified," she said in the statement.
PS Muthoni advised the Department of Public Health at both levels of government to support the school administration and boards in ensuring the safety of the pupils.
This she said is by them regularly carrying out sanitary school inspections, ascertaining the sanitation situation of schools is acceptable and taking remedial measures where appropriate.
"Regularly carry out water quality testing for both free chlorine residue and E. coli. Assist in disinfecting where water is not conforming to the acceptable standard," she said.
That being so, Muthoni urged them to promptly respond to any notification from schools about health conditions among school communities.
She informed them that they should ensure food is hygienically prepared, served and hand washing with soap is always practised, and there is no overcrowding in dormitories.
"We are once more requesting for your cooperation and partnership during these trying moments of heavy rains and floods. As our children go back to school, we should all ensure their safety and enjoyable learning environment. We are looking forward to your vigilance and appropriate action," the PS said.