By Chima Azubuike
Gombe state Focal person on Covid-19 Response, Dr Mohammed Kwami has explained the reason an SS3 student of Government Science Secondary school was allowed to write WAEC examination after presenting symptoms of Coronavirus.
He noted that the state sought for permission from the state office of the examination body to allow the conduct of examination at the isolation Centre.
Kwami who is also the acting director public health directorate , state ministry of Health in Gombe, said testing was conducted for all students that have resumed back to schools including their teachers.
He said, “While the tests were on going one of the students at government science Gombe was found to have tested positive day before last night. He was immediately evacuated to the isolation facility at the state specialist hospital Gombe.
“We were made to understand he was supposed to participate in Mathematics examination today, so we began to make arrangements to ensure he was given opportunity to write the examination in a safe environment for him and his supervisor.
“We were notified that WAEC has given approval from the state office for him to write the examination at the isolation Centre. We ensured all necessary safety measures were taken, the Supervisor that came to invigilate his work was given Full Personal Protective Equipment before he went into the isolation ward were the student is admitted.”
He added that covid-19 is not a dead sentence stressing that there is no need for stigmatization. “Majority of the time when we isolate it is not only to manage the case but to also break the chain of transmission to ensure it is not transmitted. Children can carry the virus as we can see, it doesn’t mean because they are not showing signs and symptoms they can’t transmit it also,” Kwami stated.