Snipped google weather forecast for South Sudan. (-)

The national government has directed state authorities to enforce the closure of all schools with effective from Monday, 18th March, due to excessive heatwaves in the country.

“The government has decided to take the following measures one ;close down all school with effect from Monday March 18^th.   And when I said all schools, it includes international schools, private school, public school, faith-based schools, all of them,” said Health Minister Yolanda Awel.

According to the government, South Sudan will continue to experience high temperature ranging between 41 to 45 degrees Celsius for the next two weeks.

In a joint statement on Saturday, the Ministries of health, General Education and Environment advised parents to stop their children from playing outside.

They should also monitor children, especially the younger ones for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

The three government institutions also warned that any school that violates the directives will face withdrawal of registration.

“The state authorities are here by directed to implement the measures in this press statement. Any school that will be found open during this time will have its registration withdrawn,”she said.

The government is also advising the general public to keep their home  and body temperature cool, and hydrated.

It also directed the health professionals across the country to adjust their planning and interventions to account for increasing temperatures and heatwaves.

This includes through practical, feasible, and low-cost interventions at the individual, community, organizational, governmental and societal levels to save lives.

Martin Tako, the acting Minister of General Education and Instruction said the decision was taken to save the lives of South Sudan children.

He adds that the school will remain closed until the Ministry of health and that of environment advises for reopening of schools.

“The school should remain closed until we are again advised by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment and Forestry,” he said