Dr Maliki Osman, Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and National Development, visited the Adelfibel Infant and Child Development Centre today.  Together with some parents, he witnessed the staff and children going through visual health screening upon arrival, proper hand-washing routines before breakfast, and other activities which instill good hygiene practices in the centre.  

2.      Dr Maliki said, “Given the number of serious cases of Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease in our neighbouring countries, and the virulent strain of the virus that has re-surfaced this year, it is important that our childcare centres enforce proper hygiene and prevention practices, so as to reduce the risk of the disease.”

3.      In its efforts to help child care centres to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases, MCYS regularly advises and reminds all child care centres to maintain good hygiene practices and to check for children who are unwell.  On 17 March 2006, MCYS issued another advisory to operators of child care centres and parents, to highlight their critical role in monitoring their children's health and the importance of co-operation in the management of HFMD.

4.       Centres have been reminded to do the following:

a.       Continue conducting visual screening of children upon arrival at the centre and temperature taking, if necessary;

b.       Not to allow sick children to return to the centre unless they have been certified by a doctor to be fit to return;

c.       Familiarise all new and existing staff on the importance of maintaining good health and hygiene practices, such as having a proper hand washing routine for both teachers and children;

d.       Inform and remind parents to identify early symptoms or signs of illness in their children, and to refrain from sending them to the centre if their children are unwell. Centres will also continue to distribute/display brochures and information on HFMD to increase parents' awareness about the disease; and

e.       Update and inform all parents of any HFMD cases that occur in a centre, so that parents can make informed and timely decisions on the possible alternative care arrangements.

5.      MCYS officers have stepped up supervision visits to child care centres with emphasis on health and hygiene issues.  In collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Environment Agency (NEA), MCYS will also be holding a special health briefing for all child care centre operators / supervisors on 28 March 2006.  The briefing will focus on how to manage an outbreak of infectious diseases, maintenance of good hygiene and sanitation practices, and the MCYS standard operational procedures (SOP) for child care centres in the management and control of HFMD.

6.       HFMD is spread through direct contact with respiratory droplets, saliva, faeces or blister fluids of an infected person, and indirectly by contaminated articles.  Young children, particularly those aged less than 5 years, are the most susceptible.  Infected person may suffer from signs and symptoms such as fever lasting 2 to 3 days, sore throat, runny nose, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, mouth ulcers and small fluid-filled blisters on the hands (especially the palms), feet and occasionally on the buttocks, arms and legs. 

7.       Parents can help play a vigilant and useful role by doing the following:

a.       Familiarise themselves with the symptoms of the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and other infectious diseases;

b.       Consult a doctor if their child has fever, mouth ulcers and rashes on the palms, soles or buttocks;

c.       Keep their child at home if he/she is unwell, or if they suspect that their child could be unwell;

d.       Refrain from taking their child to crowded places; and

e.       Be alert to any change in their child’s behaviour – refusal to drink, persistent vomiting and drowsiness and if these are present, to  bring the child to the A&E Departments of KKH or NUH immediately.

8.       Dr Maliki reminded parents that, “Your children learn by watching what you do, so practise good hygiene habits yourself to reinforce the centre’s lessons.   And when your child is sick, seek medical attention early, and let him rest at home.  Your role as a vigilant parent is critical to ensure that your child is safe, and to help prevent any spread of HFMD.”

9.      MCYS, together with MOH and NEA, will continue to work closely to monitor the situation of HFMD cases.  MCYS will work closely with the childcare centres to step up vigilance, so as to keep HFMD in check.

###