UAE | Health

Do not force schools to close down, parents told

UAE authorities have urged parents not to press the panic button and force schools to close down as there is no outbreak of swine flu in schools.

  • By Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 23:10 September 16, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
  • Schools are keeping the ministry informed as and when there are cases of infections in schools, says Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education.

Dubai: UAE authorities have urged parents not to press the panic button and force schools to close down as there is no outbreak of swine flu in schools.

Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education, told Gulf News the situation is well under control in schools.

"Parents have no right to confirm H1N1 infections without knowing the facts right. It is the job of the Ministry of Health to examine suspected cases and keep a record.

"Schools are keeping the ministry informed as and when there are cases of infections in schools," Al Qutami said.

The minister was reacting to the H1N1 rumours doing the rounds among worried parents who are urging schools to close down to prevent infection spreading.

However, the minister did not divulge details on the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 reported by schools in the UAE.

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So far, the Ministry of Health has shut down only one school in Sharjah because of a swine flu outbreak. Some schools, like Delhi Private School in Sharjah, have closed down as a precautionary measure after a number of students fell ill with symptoms of influenza.

"We do not have any confirmed cases of H1N1. But as many students are falling sick and attendance percentage is low, we decided to close the school from yesterday as a precautionary measure," said Vandana Marwah, Principal.

Our Own English High School in Sharjah issued a circular Wednesday confirming H1N1 cases in school. "I know that a number of parents are concerned about H1N1 and it is important that we keep you informed of developments as they arise. Our Own English High School Sharjah have confirmation of H1N1 in school," read the circular issued by the principal.

"As advised by the Ministry of Health, any student who is confirmed as having H1N1 will remain at home until they are fully recovered, which normally takes around seven days.

"There is much discussion around H1N1 and the closure of schools. Only the Ministry of Health can take this decision and we have received no notification from then and we will continue to be guided to them," the principal states in the circular.

Ali Mehad Al Suwaidi, Acting Director General and Executive Director for Institutional and Supporting Services at the ministry, said the authorities will soon issue guidelines to schools as to when they should close down to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus.

"The guidelines will be in line with the international specifications on precautions against the spread of swine flu. It will [be sent] across to schools soon so that they do not randomly shut down under pressure from parents," Al Suwaidi said.

He added that if one or two students have been diagnosed with H1N1, it does not mean that the school should shut down.

"If the infected students are immediately isolated and precautionary measures taken, the school can function normally."

Your comments


Please close down schools....for one month...this will be ample time for the people carrying the disease to stay away and get healthy....or else this will spread like fire...
Mohammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 17, 2009, 14:28

I have been reading all the news about H1N1 and I have also sent you my comment earlier, " As a Parent of a six year old who attends a private school, I have been talking to my child about how she needs to take care but it is not easy to make children understand" therefore we parents are requesting the govt. officials to please shut down schools for some time till all from abroad have returned back after the Eid vaccation and the situation is assesed and take under control. We can cope up with the studies but find it so hard to risk our child to the situation" I know and I beleive that the Govt understands our feelings. We all can play a part in taking control of the situation before an outbreak of this virus.
Preeti Gomes
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 17, 2009, 13:26

This is just like saying that cure is better then prevention, how come to wait until an outbreak occurs then to close the schools, I dont think anyone is ready to let his kids get infected then to treat them, especially all we know the side effects of the treatment of H1N1 in kids
Ali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 17, 2009, 13:02

Please close down the school until there is some solution. If health is there everthing is there. if one student is affected it is 100 % sure others will be effected in that school and nevertheless his family and his freinds it is the easiet way of spreading. so please shut the school.
Ms Ahmad
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: September 17, 2009, 12:13

I disagree. Atleast primary schools where small kids cannot be trained to be disciplined about hygeine should be closed. Older kids can atleast be told about keeping a clean hygeine. What will small kids lose in terms of academics if they remain at home for another month? This can be made up with extra Saturdays. Govt should interfere immediately and ask schools to clsoe atleast primary classes for another 2 weeks.. Small kids are more prone to be infected than those above 10 years age.
Geekay
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 17, 2009, 11:03

I personally feel, shutting down school is the only mean out for Govt to control this situation, as Parents are in pressure of not having to leave from work to take care of their infected kids and let the kid go to school to infect others. Or else, give one reason, for the presence of infected child in school.
Lalit
Doha,Qatar
Posted: September 17, 2009, 11:02

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