Health

Four activity centres in England suspended over ‘serious’ safeguarding concerns

Ofsted has suspended four holiday activity centres for children in England over “serious safeguarding concerns” including allegations of substance abuse by staff, in a rare move by the education watchdog.

The sites to have their registration suspended are Liddington in Wiltshire, Marchants Hill in Surrey, Osmington Bay in Dorset and Windmill Hill in East Sussex.

Ofsted said that some of the concerns identified were being investigated by other agencies and it was unable to provide specific details at this stage.

The safeguarding concerns included environmental health, health and safety, and the conduct of staff including substance misuse.

The regulator undertook inspections this week at five PGL centres providing Ofsted-registered care and activities for unaccompanied children on half-term holidays and found serious safeguarding issues at four camps.

PGL Travel, the camp operator, provides residential breaks and activity holidays for children aged seven to 17. It operates centres across the UK and France.

The Ofsted reports relate to the provision of childcare to unaccompanied children under eight. The suspension only applies to the provision of those services at the four centres.

Ofsted is only able to inspect PGL’s registered childcare provision in England and does not have any power to inspect or regulate other activities that the company runs for children who are accompanied by their schools or parents.

The regulator said: “We recognise the impact this decision will have on many families. PGL has a duty to inform affected parents urgently, and we have requested contact details in order to do the same.”

In response to the action by Ofsted, a spokesperson for PGL said: “PGL is committed to the highest operational standards. Ofsted have highlighted potential risks arising from isolated administrative and procedural shortcomings at four sites.

“Over the next six weeks[…] we will be working with Ofsted to fully understand their concerns. We are passionate about delivering high-quality, inspiring learning experiences that change young people’s lives and will address any shortfalls identified.”

Elsewhere, two reports by Ofsted on Thursday concluded that legislation does not reflect the level of influence that early years multiple providers and social care groups have on nurseries and children’s homes.

The regulator said it was currently only able to inspect individual nurseries, preschools and children’s homes, and has called for enhanced powers “to make sure multiple providers and groups are having a positive impact on children”.

It argues that regulatory oversight was needed at group level in addition to individual children’s home level.

Yvette Stanley, Ofsted’s national director for regulation and social care, said: “Stronger oversight of large providers is vital if we are to make sure children are getting the best deal. Current legislation is outdated and doesn’t reflect the early years and social care sectors as they operate today.

“The upcoming review into children’s social care could be a real opportunity to reform this legislation. Our research shows that these large providers have a significant impact on their individual nurseries and children’s homes, and ultimately the education and care that children receive.

“As Ofsted can only inspect individual settings, we are missing an important part of the picture.”

Health

Lassa Fever: Death toll rises to 15 in Edo

The Edo Government has confirmed 15 deaths from Lassa fever since the outbreak of the disease in the state in December 2024.

The Director of Public Health, Edo State Ministry of Health, Dr Stephenson Ojeifo, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin while responding to concerns on social media regarding the government’s efforts in tackling the outbreak.

“As of today, Edo State has recorded over 1,000 suspected cases of Lassa fever. Out of these, 103 have tested positive

“From the 103 confirmed cases, we have recorded 15 deaths, while others have been treated and discharged,” he said.

Ojeifo asserted that Gov. Monday Okpebholo had strengthened surveillance and contact tracing efforts, ensuring that all necessary resources were available to contain the outbreak.

He, however, attributed the high mortality rate to late referrals, noting that many patients arrive at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) in critical condition.

“The problem is that patients are only referred to ISTH when their condition has deteriorated.

“We have been sensitising residents to seek medical attention if they experience persistent fever that does not resolve, so that samples can be tested and treatment can commence early if needed,” he said.

The director urged healthcare providers to avoid delays in referring suspected cases to designated treatment centres.

He warned that any hospital found treating Lassa fever patients without proper authorisation would face sanctions.

In addition to the Lassa fever outbreak, Ojeifo disclosed that the state had recorded 11 suspected cases of Mpox, with five confirmed positives.

He, however, said that no deaths were recorded, as all affected individuals received timely medical attention.

Health

Kebbi Govt confirms outbreak of meningitis with 26 deaths

The Kebbi State Government has confirmed an outbreak of meningitis in three Local Government Areas (LGAs), with 26 deaths recorded so far.

The State Commissioner for Health, Yanusa Ismail, disclosed this during a press conference in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

He revealed that a total of 248 suspected cases have been recorded, with 11 samples taken for examination, out of which three have been confirmed negative.

According to the commissioner, the affected LGAs are Gwandu, Aleiro, and Jega. He provided a breakdown of the fatalities as follows: 18 in Gwandu, six in Jega, four in Aleiro, and one in Argungu.

In response to the outbreak, the Kebbi State Government has approved ₦30 million for the procurement of drugs to contain the spread of the disease.

The commissioner urged the public to maintain personal hygiene and avoid crowded places to reduce the risk of infection.

He also confirmed that isolation centres have been set up to manage cases.

He added that samples have been sent to Abuja for further testing, and if confirmed, the state government will request vaccines to prevent further spread.

Health

Diphtheria outbreak hits Kings College Lagos

A 12-year-old student at the King’s College in Victoria Island, has died with fourteen others hospitalisized following the outbreak of diphtheria.

According to the Lagos State government, 34 close contacts of the deceased have been identified and placed under observation.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed that the index case, a 12-year-old boy, developed a sore throat and fever on February 22 and was referred to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where he received treatment but succumbed to myocarditis, a severe diphtheria complication, on March 6.

He added that 14 other students showed signs of the infection and were transferred to LUTH for screening. Twelve tested positive for early signs of diphtheria and are receiving antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin serum. All are reported to be recovering.

The state government due to the incident activated an Emergency Response Committee and will begin a mass vaccination campaign targeting schoolchildren and healthcare providers. Nearly 500,000 doses of diphtheria vaccine will be deployed to high-risk areas, and infection prevention measures will be strengthened at King’s College.

Public awareness campaigns are also underway, urging residents to recognize symptoms such as sore throat, fever, difficulty breathing, and swollen neck glands. The Lagos State government is working closely with federal health agencies and the WHO to contain the outbreak.

Prof. Abayomi reassured residents that the situation is under control and emphasized the importance of good hygiene, avoiding crowded places, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms appear.