DOHA: Several Independent schools have been hit by a reported shortage of school nurses.
Every school should have at least one nurse to provide emergency care to children, but several schools say they are forced to share the services of a single nurse, due to an alleged failure of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) and the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) to provide enough number of nurses, a local Arabic daily reported yesterday.
Mainly schools on the outskirts of Doha, like Khartiyat, Duhail and Ashgawi are affected by the shortage. In some of these areas, a single nurse is serving two or three schools, dividing the working days between them, said the daily, quoting school officials.
“We have been asking the Supreme Education Council to solve this issue for long but we have got only promises, that are not fulfilled,” an Independent school operator was quoted as saying.
He said in the absence of a trained nurse, the school was forced to give training in first aid to some teachers and volunteers to take care of children in any emergency.
“We have 500 students in our school but we are getting the service of a nurse only two days in a week,” said another operator.
He said in case a student suffers from some illness, he/she has to be taken to the nearest health centre, accompanied by a supervisor. Otherwise, the parents have to be called in during their office hours.
This is wasting a lot of time of the students and the accompanying staff as well as the parents, if they are forced to come and take the child to the hospital.
Students may be absent in the class due to minor ailments that can be treated by a school nurse.
“The issue started about three years ago and we are still seeking a solution from the Supreme Council of Health,” said another official.
“We are not allowed to give any medication to the children, even Aspirin or Panadol. Then what will we do in case of an emergency?,” he asked.
Diabetic children are particularly affected by the shortage.
“There are children with diabetes whose blood sugar level may go up to 450mg or 500mg. The only option is to rush them to the nearest health center. Sometimes the parents are called in to give insulin injection,” said an official.
The Peninsula
