Ogun State reports all casualties from Ijebu-Ode gas accident have made a complete recovery

The Ogun State Government has announced that all individuals admitted to the State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode due to the recent chemical inhalation incident in local schools have been discharged after receiving medical care and being deemed fit by health professionals.

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This update was provided by the State Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, during a meeting with parents, guardians, and residents at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode.

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Coker revealed that the state government plans to deploy ambulance crews to all wards in Ijebu-Ode, ensuring a prompt emergency response, with each ambulance staffed by a driver and a paramedic to swiftly respond to incidents in the area.

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According to Coker, the government has established a medical response protocol, which guarantees that any patient requiring advanced care after being taken to secondary health facilities will be immediately transferred to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.

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Coker disclosed that individuals were admitted to both the Ijebu-Ode State Hospital and Ijebu-Ife due to methane emission, with a total of adults and children affected, and fortunately, all have been discharged in good health.

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Methane, being a non-toxic gas, competes with oxygen needed by the body and brain to function properly, thus posing a concern, and while it may not produce symptoms in mild concentrations, moderate exposure can lead to fatigue, rapid heartbeat, and breathing difficulties.

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In severe cases, methane exposure could result in convulsion or unconsciousness, but fortunately, none of the patients experienced severe symptoms within the last 24 hours, according to Coker.

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Coker advised residents not to panic in the event of unusual occurrences and to utilize the ministry's emergency response line, adding that district surveillance nurses, nursing officers, and rapid response personnel have been deployed to the community.

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The ministry has also informed the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control about the incident and operates an emergency call centre daily, with environmental health officials, rapid response teams, and adequate oxygen supply in ambulances and health facilities across the state.

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Coker encouraged residents to alert the authorities immediately if they notice anything suspicious, so that personnel can investigate and provide assistance.

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The ministry plans to train teachers from public and private schools, as well as interested parents, as community first responders, with emergency response procedures including promptly calling for help and protecting the respiratory system with a wet cloth in cases of suspected methane exposure.

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Toxicology tests will also be conducted on some of the affected children to determine the level of gas exposure, with all recorded cases so far being mild or moderate and no severe cases reported.

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State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, revealed that gas analysers have been installed around affected schools to monitor air quality in the environment, with plans to expand the coverage of these analysers across schools in Ijebu-Ode.

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Experts from Olabisi Onabanjo University are collaborating with the ministry to interpret data collected from the devices, and health officers will be deployed to schools in the area starting from Monday.

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Oresanya stated that the analysers have been monitored every hour over the past four weeks, particularly around the affected school and other parts of Ijebu-Ode, and the government is also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Environment and research institutions to address the challenge.

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Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, appealed to principals and teachers to help calm students and manage the situation, while also urging parents and residents to remain calm and assured them that the state government prioritizes the welfare and safety of students.

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Arigbabu warned against spreading false information that could cause panic, citing an incident in Abeokuta where someone entered a school premises and packed sand, and emphasized the need for principals to remain vigilant.

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State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, disclosed that the command, along with the School Protection Squad and other specialized departments, has been deployed to secure schools and surrounding communities, using drones to survey and monitor the affected environment and ensure the safety of students and residents.