Abu Dhabi Students: Stay Home if You Have These 9 Conditions

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The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has rolled out a new policy aimed at enhancing infection control and prevention in early education institutions. This policy highlights crucial health conditions that require children and staff to stay home to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Nine Health Conditions Requiring Temporary Absence

The new measures identify nine key health conditions where children and staff are asked to stay home:

1. High Fever: A body temperature of 38°C or above, which may be a sign of viral or bacterial infections.
2. Flu-Like Symptoms: Symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose, cough, headache, and body aches, common in many contagious illnesses.
3. Eye-related Symptoms: Conditions like eye pain, redness, or discharge that require consultation with a doctor and a medical certificate to return.
4. Rashes: Rash outbreaks that could be linked to contagious diseases like chickenpox, measles, or hand, foot, and mouth disease.
5. Nausea or Vomiting: Two or more episodes of vomiting, especially when accompanied by a fever.
6. Diarrhoea: Two or more abnormal episodes of diarrhoea in a short period.
7. Head Lice: Cases of suspected or confirmed head lice infestations.
8. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Symptoms: Fever, mouth sores, and rashes on the hands and feet.
9. Other Contagious Symptoms: Illness symptoms that may not yet have visible signs but could still be contagious.

The policy requires that children or staff showing any of these symptoms remain home until fully recovered. Parents or staff members must inform the institution if an illness is diagnosed and follow the guidelines for returning.

Sick Leave and Reporting Procedures

The new policy also establishes clear sick leave guidelines for staff. Institutions are required to include detailed procedures in their employee handbooks. These procedures should cover how staff should notify the institution of their absences, the documentation required, and the medical certificates needed to confirm they are fit to return, all in line with health authority guidelines.

Mandatory Actions for Early Education Institutions

The ADEK policy outlines five main actions that early education institutions must implement to promote health and safety:

1. Child Immunisation Requirements: Ensuring children’s immunisation records are up to date upon enrolment.
2. Preventive Hygiene Measures: Staff and students should adhere to basic hygiene practices like handwashing and using personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary.
3. Infectious Disease Management: Clear protocols for managing outbreaks and preventing further spread.
4. Temporary Absences for Health Reasons: A procedure for managing temporary absences due to illness.
5. Communication Plan for Parents: A strategy for informing parents about health-related issues affecting the institution.

Hygiene and Preventive Measures

The policy stresses the importance of hygiene in preventing the spread of disease. Key measures include regular handwashing, the proper disposal of waste, and ensuring the cleanliness of toys, teaching materials, and the environment. Staff are also expected to wear PPE for hygiene-sensitive tasks such as food preparation.

In addition to regular cleaning, other preventive steps include:

• No Toys in Restrooms: To prevent contamination.
• Avoid Sharing Personal Items: To limit the potential spread of germs.
• Protective Covers for Sandpits and Water Tanks: To keep children safe from exposure to harmful microorganisms.

Communication and Reporting Guidelines

Parents are required to inform the institution if their child contracts a contagious disease. The institution will then take necessary steps to manage the situation, including:

1. Advising parents and staff to seek medical treatment.
2. Informing all families and staff about the situation and the necessary precautions.
3. Providing clear guidelines for when a child can safely return to school.
4. Reporting vaccine-preventable diseases (such as measles, mumps, or rubella) to the Department of Health.
5. Contacting emergency services if immediate medical attention is needed.

This comprehensive policy is designed to ensure the health and safety of children, staff, and their families in Abu Dhabi's early education institutions. By adhering to these guidelines, schools can minimize the spread of infections and promote a healthier, safer environment for all.