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RAK Parents Seek Preventive Measures Against Swine Flu

RAS AL KHAIMAH — Even as schools are set to open for the next academic term, parents have asked health and educational authorities in Ras Al Khaimah to introduce H1N1 (swine flu) preventive measures and awareness programmes as many students will be returning from their holidays in different countries.

Health monitoring groups in schools to detect symptoms of swine flu among students are also necessary, said one of the parents. Parents and guardians are concerned by the fact that many students attending schools in the emirate have had long vacations in some of the countries that have reported an increase in H1N1 cases

“It is important for health authorities and the RAK Educational Zone to initiate H1N1 preventive and control measures in schools in order to protect our children from the risks of acquiring the disease, as they will be mixing with some students that might have been infected with H1N1 since they have spent their summer vacations in different countries,” said Ghamal Abdul Nasser, a parent of three children studying in RAK schools.

He added that schools should be provided with health monitoring officials to examine students so as to detect signs of H1N1 among students at the beginning of the term in order to contain the possible risk of students infected with the virus passing it on to others.

Shahab Ali, a guardian of three students attending primary schools in Ras Al Khaimah, said he and his family had suspended travelling abroad during this year’s summer holidays because of the fear of the swine flu as there were reports of increased cases of H1N1 infections in the countries they wanted to visit.

“We decided to spend our holidays here and avoid the risks of contacting the H1N1 virus. It is therefore necessary for health and educational authorities in the emirate to chalk out strategies that would eliminate possible risks and detect those with the slightest symptoms of the disease at early stages,” said Ali.

Mahrat bint Swarah, Director of Health Education and Information at the RAK Medical District, said parents should have no worries of the H1N1 as the Ministry of Health has put in place measures to detect those with swine flu symptoms while they were still at the country’s entry points in order to prevent the spread of the disease in the country.

She added that the ministry has already carried out H1N1 awareness programmes to raise awareness on the disease in RAK schools and that it would continue with these awareness programmes even during the forthcoming academic year.

“The RAK Medical District will also put in place health monitoring groups in some schools at the start of the next term to detect the possible symptoms of swine flu among students,” she added.

Mahrat has called on school managements to rush any student with suspected swine flu symptoms to the hospital and to report such cases to the RAK Medical District.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com