Schools free of communicable diseases: Official

Manama : Public Relations and Media Director at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Fawaz Ahmed Al-Shrooqi, has said that the school health department at the Ministry carries out daily visits to schools, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, to follow up on vaccinations and chronic diseases for students, hold lectures and specialised seminars and issue awareness publications on hygiene and proper food. Al-Shrooqi said that despite repeated statements published by the Ministry of Health that schools are free of communicable diseases, some sides still insist on claiming otherwise without any evidence and without relying on real facts, which, he added, would raise doubts and confusion.

He added that the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, provides qualified nurses in schools, to follow-up on chronic or emergency health conditions on a daily basis, in addition to their awareness and guidance roles.

He also highlighted the role of the Psychological and Academic Guidance Centre to follow-up on many cases related to the behaviour of students. He affirmed that School Health Department at the Ministry of Education coordinates on a daily basis with the competent authorities at the Ministry of Health, and communicates with them in various aspects related to school health. He thanked Ministry of Health for its cooperation and coordination, and for providing all aspects of support for school health, assuring the public that, based on the statements received from the Ministry of Health, all public and private schools are free from infectious diseases.