IN light of the prevalence of infectious illnesses such as COVID-19, mPox, hand foot and mouth disease and influenza, amongst other illnesses, it is imperative that effective infection control strategies be implemente d in schools. Children, particularly those under 12 years old, are quite vulnerable to spread of infectious illnesses. A hygienic and sanitary school environment is therefore not an option but is actually the right of each child being educated in an institution.
The vulnerability It is perfectly normal for children, including pre-teens to suffer from some types of infectious illnesses. Nevertheless, one ill child should not make every other child ill. Educators and school administrators must therefore be aware of the importance of implementing hygiene and sanitation policies which includes infection control measures to reduce the spread of infectious illnesses in their institution.
Influenza, the common cold and many gastrointestinal illnesses show higher incidence and prevalence in schools and institutions where overcrowded classrooms and inadequate facilities are enhanced by failure to implement and enforce effective hygiene and sanitation policies. The enforcement of measures in schools, which restrict contact between those who are ill with infectious illnesses, is a legal requirement and social necessity. Too often, due to the lack of enforcement of these measures, sick children with contagious illnesses are allowed to attend school as per usual.
School-base.
