Closing down KUMACA SHS necessary – NUGS

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) says it has become necessary for Ghana Education Service(GES) and Ministry of Education to close down Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA).

Four students of KUMACA have died this month from what has been found to be Swine flu.

The Minister of Health Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has confirmed that the unexplained deaths that has hit KUMACA were caused by a respiratory illness known as Influenza H1N1 209.

Addressing the media Thursday, the Health Minister disclosed that 19 tests conducted by the Noguchi Memorial Institute confirmed Influenza H1N1 209 as the cause of the deaths and not meningitis as earlier suspected.

Hon. Agyeman-Manu also stated that seven students who died in the school earlier in April this year died from meningitis.

He assured that the outbreak has been confined to the Kumasi Academy and not likely to spread beyond the school.

The Minister also confirmed that 44 students have been infected and are currently receiving treatment. He appealed to parents not to panic and return their children who have been taken home.`

The Deputy Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum told the media on Wednesday that the school will be closed down by government.

The National President of NUGS, Oheneba Elisha Essumang in an interview with Abusua FM’s Osei Kwadwo said closing down KUMACA SHS has become necessary.

He added that Ghana Health Service (GHS) should consider fumigation exercise in the school.

“Now that we know what is killing KUMACA students, we believe that closing of the school for a period of time has become necessary.

If the students continue to stay in the school it will be very difficult to uproot the virus from the school. Ghana Health Service should also consider embarking on a fumigation exercise in the school” he said