H1N1: Parents teachers close schools.
WHILE HEALTH officials maintain that there is no need to close schools during the current influenza alert, staff, parents and students are making the decision for themselves
Because of the A (H1N1). health crisis that has claimed the lives of 22 people and has severely affected close to 700 more,.at least 10 schools in the province of Panama West have suspended classes for fear of infections
Meanwhile, the attendance of students in the Panama metropolitan region is low.
The Ministry of Education (Meduca) reported on Wednesday June 15 that at least 35 teachers from the IPT Jeptha B. Duncan school in December 24, decided not to continue with the school day.
Diogenes Sanchez, a member of the Association of Panama Teachers, said the decision to cancel the school day has been taken in most cases by the parents themselves, as a preventive measure to prevent further infections.
Sanchez said that this was the case of what happened on Wednesday at the Jose Dolores Moscote Institute, where he works. There, parents he met decided that “there are no conditions to continue with classes,” he said.
Sanchez said he has reports that similar meetings will be held in various schools across the province in the course of the week.
Meanwhile, Nestor Sosa, a spokesman for the Government’s task force created to report on influenza, said in press conference that closing schools or the suspension of classes, due to the epidemiological alert issued in the country has not been recommended. He said that the recommendation is endorsed by the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization.
NEW CHIEF
In the midst of the crisis, Panama’s Health Minister was obliged to resign as he took off to watch a Copa America Centennial tournament soccer match in Chicago, The new minister, who will be faced with a full in-tray will take over on Thursday, June 16.