DIRECTOR of health emergencies Dr Ciro Ugarte.
By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
AS public schools prepare to reopen for hybrid instruction with face-to-face learning next month, a Pan American Health Organization official said this can be done once adequate safety and health measures are in place.
However, the PAHO representative suggested officials must be quick to adapt to changing situations during the pandemic, such as a surge in cases, adding that suppressing cases should be a priority.
In a press briefing yesterday, Dr Ciro Ugarte, director of health emergencies, stated the position the World Health Organization (WHO), PAHO, and many countries have adopted. He explained that continuity of education for children for their overall well-being, health and safety should be at the forefront of all considerations and decisions being taken in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Ugarte added the opening and closing in-person school activities have been addressed by PAHO/WHO through guidelines, but also a part of a comprehensive set of public health social distancing measures.
“There is a specific document that details how these measures can be implemented considering the different epidemiological local situation, but also what is the capacity of responding to increase in the number of cases and taking into account, of course, the emergence of variants,” he said.
“For instance, (in) a situation (where) there is a community transmission with limited additional capacity to respond, childcare services, primary and secondary schools may remain open with adequate safety and surveillance measures in place as long as the local context allows,” he said.
“But in situations when there is an uncontrolled epidemic, where in that case it is situation level four with limited or no additional system response capacity, all individuals, including fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, or recovered individuals should stay at home and limit physical contact with people outside the household and that is the situation also, of course, for schools.
“Therefore, we consider the decision of The Bahamas to resume in person learning seems to reflect the consolidation of the collective learning process that we have been going through these past two years, but we trust that educational institutions are fit to ensure adequate ventilation, to maintain physical distancing and to allow hand hygiene.
“Protocols for use of masks are also developed and implemented and arrangements are in place between the health and education authority for the early detection and management of cases in school settings as well as the identification and follow up of the contacts. There are many criteria I’d like to highlight and in countries where there is intense community transmission in settings where physical distancing cannot be achieved. There are certain additional recommendations, including the use of masks in the schools that must be implemented.”
Although PAHO/WHO offers technical guidance for safe in person learning, the “utmost priority” for national and local authorities should remain the suppression of transmission, said Dr Ugarte.
“This obviously implies the complex decision-making processes including the implication related to continuing or interrupting the in-person learning. So the safety of the children, the teachers... but also the entire community is at stake. So those decisions must be carefully taken.”
Comments
ohdrap4 2 years, 5 months ago
What? They running the MOE too.
Dr. UGARTE, WHAT DOES YOU SAY ABOUT THE CARNIVAL?
👻
ohdrap4 2 years, 5 months ago
Lol. They gon vote you out. We be tired of eating dry cereal with no milk
I THINK WE SHOULD SEND ALL THE PAHO REPS TO THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS THEY ARE BUILDING IN DARWIN, AUSTRALIA.
JokeyJack 2 years, 5 months ago
Anyone think these idiots at PAHO and CDC will ever shut up? I guess they have to sing for their supper. I would be too embarrassed to be him, i would quit and go be a pharmacist or just work at Wendys or something. He should at least wear a paper bag with the eyes cut out so nobody recognizes him.
carltonr61 2 years, 5 months ago
We know where vaccine profit schemes are schooling the fish. Just keep the fear in place to enforce vaccination. Of greater danger to children is internet and Gaming addiction. In 2022 WHO intends to classify gaming as an addiction. Where school age children spend up to 18 hours unsupervised at computer screens it is possible that their brain development may be permanently affected by gaming. Children only friends are on their game profile,the place where they receive rewards and affirmation as humans. They will have zero social coping skills and will go into classic drug like withdrawal symptoms of irritability,anger, aches,depression once taken from their computer screens. Will their be more child suicides we don't know. But there is sufficient evidence that WHO may declare gaming a pandemic. China has already taken action and demanded children to outside activity. Just go to Canada's CAMH,Center for Addictions and Mental Health. Become certified.
carltonr61 2 years, 5 months ago
It is a sad pity that our very professional Mental Health Doctors at Sandilands do not have a say in National Policies regarding their field. Addictions as they relate to the Cannabinol Systems also applies to internet and Gaming as rewards. The press should intelligently request professional briefings from local Doctors Knowles and Christie as it relates to the Mental Health of Bahamians under pandemic situations for current status and what to expect moving forward. Just gained expert knowledge Certifications I can say we face a calamity among shutting children.
tribanon 2 years, 5 months ago
ONCE AGAIN:
WE NEED TO GET ALL OF THESE W.H.O. AND P.A.H.O. FOREIGN TALKING HEADS OUT OF OUR COUNTRY AND TELL THEM IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS TO STOP MEDDLING IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
WE HAVE LISTENED TO THESE BUREAUCRATIC IMBECILES FOR FAR TOO LONG AND LOOK WHERE THAT HAS GOTTEN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM. THESE W.H.O. AND P.A.H.O. BOZOS RULE THE UWI MED SCHOOL WHICH IS WHY SO MANY OF OUR UWI TRAINED MEDICAL 'DOCTORS' AND 'NURSES' ARE SO DEFERENTIAL AND SUBSERVIENT TO THEM.
THEY THINK THEY ARE RUNNING OUR COUNTRY AND REALLY NEED TO BE TOLD BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO "BUTT OUT!"
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