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Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has assured the general public and students across the country of government’s resolve to strengthen measures to contain and prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu and to keep the schools safe.

The Vice-President last Friday visited the Kumasi Academy, where four students have since lost their lives through a suspected outbreak of H1N1 virus.

Currently, over 20 students of that school are currently under medical observation and are receiving treatment at various hospitals as health experts work around the clock to resolve the situation.

Dr Bawumia expressed condolences to the families who have lost dear ones as a result of the outbreak and the entire student and teaching body of Kumasi Academy, and assured them that government is working frantically to contain the situation.

“On behalf of the President, the government and people of Ghana, I wish to express our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families, teachers, students and friends of Kumasi Academy Senior High School who have been affected by the H1N1 virus.

“My heart goes out to the families of the four promising students who have lost their life through the outbreak of the swine flu; may the souls of the departed students rest in perfect peace. I wish those admitted in hospitals speedy recovery,” the Vice-President noted.

He added: “I know that parents and other schools are getting nervous about the possibility of further outbreak of swine flu in their respective schools. I will like to assure the public of government’s resolve to continue to review and strengthen measures to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu around the country and keep our schools safe.”

He further expressed appreciation to the healthcare professionals and education staff who have worked tirelessly to contain the virus and prevent further outbreak.

Meanwhile, the ministries of Health and Education, the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Education Service have strongly recommended that students and teachers of the school be kept under strict medical surveillance and made to continue to stay in the school to enable final conclusion and response actions.

The Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, disclosed this when he briefed parliament on the situation so far on measures put in place to contain the disease.

According to the Minister, government has already procured antiviral agents for case management, which has since proved effective in managing the situation.

“Aside these, steps are also being taken to enhance school health at Kumasi Academy and there will be the strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures, along with intensified sensitisation and public education,” he added.