Creche hit by mysterious skin rash

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Monday November 8, 2010 00:00

The irate parents approached The Monitor on Thursday, saying the school had been closed after they complained to management about the school's sub-standard hygiene that they blame for the skin rash.

They said while the outbreak started about three weeks ago, management never told them and that they only got to know when some concerned teachers raised the alarm and warned them that the outbreak could spread.

The parents said the school had recently become overcrowded when 25 children were put in a class meant for less than 15 children.

They said everything at the school - including the kitchen and mattresses the children use to rest - is dirty.

The decision to close the school for a week was taken at a meeting requested by the parents, where management was taken to task over hygiene. On visiting the school the same day, The Monitor found it empty except for two teachers and a few repairmen who were busy at the school's swimming pool.

Significantly, there was no signs of cleaning taking place despite the school having been closed for the purpose.

 The premises were littered with leaves falling from surrounding vegetation, giving them the appearance of an abandoned children's park.

The Principal, Webster Kasonda, acknowledged that the school had been closed the previous day (Wednesday) following an outbreak of skin rash suspected to be heat rash or measles. 

A total of 18 children had developed the rash since it started a few weeks previously.

Kasonda said management had reported the matter to relevant authorities immediately but nothing had so far been established or done.

 'We reported the matter to the Ministry of Education (MOE) who engaged the Ministry of Health (MoH),' he said.'The gentleman who was leaving when you (The Monitor team) came is a doctor from MoH. He promised to return as soon as possible.' Management had also reported the outbreak to the Harvard Institute at Princess Marina Hospital which had also promised to help.

'We want expert opinion about the cause of the rash,' Kasonda said. 'We therefore decided - by consensus with the parents - that the children should stay away until the problem is cleared.'  Kasonde said it was not true that they had not informed the parents about the outbreak promptly.

Regarding hygiene, Kasonda said theirs were the highest standards.

Junior Shepherd is one of the most reputable day care centres around town and had never experienced anything like this in its 10 years of existence, he said.

Efforts to contact other authorities were unsuccessful The school currently enrols 70 children aged between two and six.

The school is expected to resume normal operations today.