The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has proposed to the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health to jointly organise a health screening exercise for Senior High School students across the country in the wake of recorded cases of meningitis and H1N1 infections in some schools before they vacate to join their families for the festive season.

ASEPA is worried that, if the students are not screened, infected ones can spread the disease once they go home for vacation.

There has been recorded cases of H1N1 at the Kumasi Academy Campus that has left four students dead and several others hopitalised. There are also recorded cases of meningitis at the Damango SHS, Tempene SHS, Bawku Senior High Technical School and Koforidua Secondary Technical School.

“The students should be screened on H1N1 virus, meningitis and other contagious diseases,” ASEPA said in a statement.

According to ASEPA, overcrowding in the schools due to the implementation of the Free SHS policy has caused overcrowding and the “probability that students may be exposed to H1N1 or meningitis or other contagious diseases maybe high.”

The statement added that: “Some [students] may not necessarily show the symptoms yet, but if they are released back into our communities, the probability of infecting others and causing an outbreak during the festive season maybe high.”

ASEPA has also suggested that all high schools across the country are fumigated during the vacation period to eliminate the possibilities of reinfection and an outbreak when the students resume from the Christmas holidays.