News

A mandatory health screening programme for students entering government schools in the Cayman Islands for the first time will run from 19 July-23 August.

The annual school screening programme is starting later than usual this year due to the Health Services Authority’s ongoing commitments to providing testing and vaccination services during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Noting that screenings are required even for students entering reception programmes, School Health Coordinator Nurse Carvell Bailey–Able adds that the Education Department requires that the process must be completed before the new school year begins in September.

The screening includes a growth and development assessment, screening for vision and hearing, a dental assessment, the administration of necessary immunisations, and obtaining a student’s personal medical history.

For those children entering school in West Bay, screenings will be conducted at the Sir John. A. Cumber Primary School. Meanwhile those headed to the Eastern districts, should visit Bodden Town Primary School.

For all other government primary school students (i.e George Town, Prospect and Red Bay Primaries), health screenings will take place in the nurse’s office at the John Gray High School Medical Centre.

Parents and guardians alike are reminded that appointments can also be made at the school the child will be attending, and that they must be in attendance for the screening exercise. To expedite the screening process there, government primary school administration offices have already begun contacting students’ families to make appointments. Parents must also remember to bring the child’s immunisation record.

“Vaccines will be offered to children whose immunisations are not up-to-date. A health screening certificate will then be issued, which must be taken to the child’s school,” Nurse Carvell Bailey-Able explained.

Parents may also have their child’s health screenings done by a private doctor, as long as that doctor completes the school health screening forms provided by the Public Health Department.

Completed forms for students from all schools should be handed in to the nurse’s office at the John Gray High School Medical Centre between 19 July and 23 August, from 8.30 a.m. and 4p.m. Outside of these dates, the forms can be taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital’s Public Health Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital.

Once they receive the record, school health officials will issue a health screening certificate. Prior to the start of the school year this must be taken to the school the child will enter in September.

Health screenings will also continue during September and October for any children who could not be screened during the summer. This phase will include children who are entering private schools for the first time

In Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, appointments for school entry screenings can be made by contacting Public Health Nurse Kedine Hyde at Faith Hospital on 948-2243/244-7643.

Detailed information sheets for parents and guardians are available at the schools. For more information, please contact Nurse Carvell Bailey- Able on 244-2734 and 244-2648.