The Ministry of Health has issued eight sanitation guidelines to schools following the current weather conditions.
In a statement dated Saturday, May 18, the school administrators were advised to ensure that there are evacuation routes and warning signals to be used in the event of a flood.
School heads and parents were also advised to ensure that they treat all drinking and cooking water used by students.
On the other hand, the Ministry also asked teachers to prohibit students from walking or playing in flooded waters.
"The Ministry also calls on public health departments to support schools by conducting regular sanitary inspections, testing water quality, and responding promptly to any health concerns raised by schools.
"This advisory is part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to mitigate the impacts of floods and maintain safe educational environments despite adverse weather conditions," read the statement in part.
Further, schools were also advised to ensure that the students use mosquito nets at night. Students were also urged to adopt full-sleeve clothes for protection against mosquitos.
In the same sanitation line, schools were instructed to ensure that toilets and bathrooms were in good condition even as they properly stored food to avoid contamination.
Additionally, the learning centres were encouraged to adopt regular handwashing practices to prevent the rise of infections.
Meanwhile, school heads were also mandated to report any outbreaks of diseases to relevant authorities.
“Our priority is to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students during these challenging times. We urge all school administrations to be vigilant and proactive in implementing these measures,” Health PS Mary Muthoni stated.
The advisory by the Ministry of Health comes a week after schools reopened after a two-week extension.
Notably, the extension was informed by the heavy rains that caused floods in parts of the country. Apart from the displacement of people and deaths, the floods have also caused the rise of food-contaminated diseases.
