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More Tests for Schoolchildren: This Time Medical
DUBAI - Children will soon be required to undertake blood and urine tests during their enrolment process in public schools, a senior Ministry of Health (MoH) official said on Tuesday.
The mandatory tests are part of the MoH’s school health programme to detect and prevent diseases among children at an early age.
“The tests will be conducted during the time of admission among children of KG 1, again when the child enters Grade 5 and finally in Grade 9,” said Dr Fawzia Al Jaziri, Director of the School Health Department at the MoH in
The ministry is also recommending the same for private schools.
Dr Fawzia says the tests are being made mandatory since diseases such as anaemia, diabetes and Thalassaemia go undetected for years until they become full-blown cases.
“I recently came across a 13-year-old school kid who was suffering from severe diabetes. He complained of frequent urination but even the parents were unable to understand the seriousness of the problem. Now, the child is admitted in the ICU of a hospital,” she said.
She also said a big responsibility lay with the school doctor and nurse. “The tests will be handled by the school doctor or nurse. If a serious case is detected, it will be forwarded to a primary healthcare centre while the school doctor/nurse will be required to maintain a regular follow-up with the parents regarding proper treatment and medicine for the student.”
The schools will be required to train teachers to deal adequately with such children.
These tests, however, are only part of the bigger picture. “The school health programme is comprehensive and includes testing and sending out questionnaires on several health aspects, including physical and mental health,” she said.
During a symposium held earlier this week, the MoH announced that it was preparing a special questionnaire to detect mental and neurological disorders among school children.
Citing a study conducted by the World Mental Health Congress, Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Executive Manager of Health Policy, MoH, said since students accounted for 23 per cent of the total population of the country, the ministry would initiate a blanket medical check-up for students at all levels.
“The questionnaires will be for a preliminary evaluation survey of the psychological well-being of the student which will be filled up by the parents under the supervision of the school doctor or nurse,” he said, adding the findings will define the course of action.
Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Quttami has already issued directives to open psychiatric clinics in all school health centres.
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