Abu Dhabi, 18th Sept. 2009 — The National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu gave its green light yesterday at a meeting chaired by Health Minister H.E. Dr. Hanif Hassan to an updated executive plan to fight the H1N1 virus in schools.
A media plan was also approved. The Committee approved the two plans after taking stock of the general situation in schools. A plan for management of the situation in nurseries and the handicapped centres was also given the go-head.
It was drawn in association with the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Dr. Ali Shukar, Director General of the Ministry of Health, stated following the meeting that the overall situation after two weeks of starting classes in some schools was ”very stable” despite the detection of individual infections among students.
”Roles of stakeholders from the ministries of health and education as well as other competent authorities handing the H1N1 virus file were determined during the meeting,”he said.
According to him, eight types of posters and flyers containing educational and preventive tips had been handed to the Ministry of Education which, in turn, will distribute them to schools.
He added that guardians of students will be educated on methods to deal with the disease if it hits one of their kids.
”There is no intention to put off the start of the new academic year.
The Ministry of Education will have the authority to partially suspend classes for sometimes in a specific school or a group of schools or even in a particular class,”he affirmed.
Education zones and school administrations, he clarified, would be given powers to partially postpone classes as per infected cases in coordination with the Ministry of Health.
”In case more than one school is infected, a central action will be taken after the consent of the higher authority,”he said.