Ministry clarifies H1N1 measures in afternoon religious schools

Borneo Bulletin, 19 July 2009

By James Kon


Following the revelation of religious schools being late to start Influenza A(H1N1) screening as published in the Borneo Bulletin on July 17, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has responded to the article which illustrates parents' dissatisfaction with the delayed start in screening for their children - who are attending the afternoon religious school session - due to lack of thermometers and masks.

In the press statement released by the Ministry of Religious Affairs yesterday, the ministry stated that the absence of thermometers and face masks for religious schools that hold afternoon sessions is based on the consideration that temperature screening for students is already being carried out in the morning. The ministry added that the morning screening is adequate, and that there is no further need for students to undergo such screening in the afternoon.

As an effort to combat the spread of Influenza A(H1N1) among the student population in schools nationwide, the Ministry of Health has taken calculated steps by providing thermometers and face masks to all schools under the Ministry of Education, as well as Arabic schools, the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Tahfiz Institute and religious schools that hold morning academic sessions only, that operate under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The handing over of the thermometers and masks took place in a ceremony held on June 25, at the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College at Jln Muara. Officiating at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and the Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The distribution of thermometers is aimed at keeping check on the temperature of students, especially students who are studying in the morning session, while the masks were meant for distribution to students who have temperatures of more than 37.8 degrees Celsius or who are suffering from cough, flu and fever, the Ministry of Religious Affairs stated in the press release.

Students who have flu-like symptoms are also being separated and sent home to get treatment in hospital or health clinic. Students who are found ill are not allowed to come to school.
Principals of religious schools that hold only morning sessions have already been briefed on the guidelines for the use of thermometers and face masks in schools by the Department of Islamic Education on June 27. Principals of the "afternoon-only" religious schools attended a similar briefing on June 30 at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Tahfiz Institute.

Although the afternoon religious schools were not supplied with thermometers and masks, the Department of Islamic Education instructed principals to take precautionary measures and other initiatives, such as purchasing thermometers by means of the school's fund, organising cleaning campaigns, conducting Sunat Hajat prayers and reciting the "Doa Tolak Bala."

In addition, the Department has also provided liquid soap and masks to be used by all the schools under the Department's watch.