Continuing efforts to bring awareness about coronavirus and its prevention, the Department of Health and Wellness recently hosted sensitization sessions with primary and secondary school principals.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Glensford Joseph says this session is extremely important as it provided principals with the opportunity to review and update their response plan for COVID-19 in the schools.

“It is important to note that the management of COVID-19 requires a multi-sectoral approach and within the education system especially the schools we know we have large gatherings of children. As such, it is important for the Ministry of Education to ensure that their plans are up to date so that they can prepare for and respond to the event of COVID-19 imputation into Saint Lucia.”

School Safety Coordinator in the Department of Education Bernez Khodra says he is very pleased with the collaboration between the Department of Education and Department of Health to sensitize the principals given that coronavirus can have a significant impact on the schools.

"The information that they will be gathering today will better equip them so that when they get to the schools, if per chance there were to be any case they would know the best way to deal with the situation. It is an ongoing partnership with the Ministry of Health as it relates to the coronavirus and health generally, so, we are just strengthening our protocols. At the point, the professionals within the Ministry of Health are here to impact the correct ways and the correct information to our principals so that when they get to the schools, they will be able to go back and give the teachers information again through the school safety plans able to deal with any eventuality."

Khodra says it is hoped that great focus will be placed on intensive health and hygiene exercise at the schools.

"We know children tend to play and put their hands in their mouth and all of those things. So, we want to encourage the schools to continue emphasizing, educating the students on proper hygiene and also that information will be sent to the homes where that will be reinforced at the home level. So, it is very important that the personal hygiene in particular because that is the best way to prevent the spread of coronavirus."

The Department of Health and Wellness appeals to all schools to heighten the promotion of good hygiene practices such as frequent hand washing and cough etiquette.