September 6th 2022
Maintaining a healthy school environment
by Ministry of Health
THE MINISTRY ENCOURAGES ALL TO TAKE THE NECESSARY HEALTH PRECAUTIONS WHILE AT SCHOOL.
A new school year is upon us. For many this is an exciting time as children look forward to meeting their friends, making new friends and interacting with peers and teachers during their learning process.
With this the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs seeks to inform educators, parents and children to take the necessary precautions to ensure they remain safe whilst at school.
Despite the recent relaxation of the COVID-19 protocols, the threat of COVID-19 remains. A look at our epidemic curve, indicates a sustained transmission of the virus, at an average rate of 43 cases per day over the past 8 weeks.
Inspite of the decreasing number of laboratory tests, there is a consistent 22% positivity rate indicating that while transmission is ongoing, more persons are selftreating and as such the actual number of infected persons is much higher than that reported.
The Ministry of Health notes that a number of cases of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease have been reported. This disease, is endemic in Saint Lucia and mostly affects children under the age of 5, however it is very contagious and can spread quickly.
Symptoms of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease include fever, reduced appetite, sore throat, painful mouth sores that usually begin as flat red spots which start on the tongue and inside the mouth, then blister and become painful and rash of flat red spots that may blister on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes the knees, elbows, buttocks, and/or genital area.
Parents and Educators are therefore urged to be on the alert for children presenting with fevers and ask that they seek medical attention from a Wellness Centre or Family Physician at the soonest. Hand Foot and Mouth disease is not a serious illness but in very rare cases it can lead to hospitalization.
It is important that we remain vigilant, and continue safe practices in order to avert any outbreaks within our educational institutions.
An outbreak of any disease could lead to disruptions in school activities which would once again hamper the academic and social development of our youth who have already been severely impacted over the last 2 years.
It is only through collective responsibility and the practice of good sanitary and hygiene practices as well as adherence to health and safety guidelines that we can return as close to normalcy as possible.
The Ministry of Health advises that with emerging and existing infectious diseases, the following infection prevention and control measures in the schools must be adhered to.
These include: The frequent washing of hands Cough etiquette that is covering your cough or sneeze Isolation of a sick child and notification of their parent Ensuring that sick children remain at home Continued cleaning and disinfection of the educational institutions.
This is also a time to encourage and support our children by fostering healthy lifestyle habits such as: Getting adequate rest and sleep Making healthy choices in foods by eating more fruits and vegetables Becoming physically active Promoting good mental health Ensuring that our children remain focused on the task at hand.
The continued operations of schools are extremely important. Schools are not just buildings but for many, they are sanctuaries, and safe havens where young minds are molded and ideas are nurtured. Together let us ensure the safe operations of our schools so that our children may have the future they deserve.
The Ministry of Health thanks you for your continued support as we continue to keep Saint Lucia healthy and safe. For more information, please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer or the Epidemiology Unit at 468-5309/468-5317 respectively.
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