School nurses receive training in infectious disease prevention
By THE STAR STAFF
As part of the measures aimed at strengthening the prevention of infectious diseases in school communities, including influenza, the island Department of Education (DEPR) recently conducted training for its school nurses on the protocols for prevention, management, identification and reporting of possible cases.
The training was offered virtually in coordination with the Epidemiology and Research Division of the Department of Health and focused on the “Guide for School Health: Prevention, Management, and Reporting of Infectious Diseases in Educational Institutions for the 2026-2027 Academic Year.” During the training, practical strategies were shared to strengthen prevention and maintain safe and healthy environments for students and school communities.
This initiative is part of the ongoing preventative efforts by the DEPR to combat infectious diseases that can spread in schools. School nurses play a vital role in the efforts, leading the implementation of health protocols in each school, providing guidance to school communities, and identifying students with symptoms requiring attention.
Likewise, nurses maintain the process of identifying and reporting cases through the agency’s internal portal, which allows them to monitor health situations that arise in schools and activate the corresponding preventive measures.
“Our school nurses play a fundamental role in preventing and responding to health situations in our schools,” Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés said. “This training strengthens the tools they use daily to identify symptoms and activate the corresponding protocols. Prevention is a shared responsibility, and in the face of influenza and other infectious diseases, we also need the collaboration of parents and guardians. If their children present symptoms, they should not be sent to school and should seek medical attention.”
The DEPR also joined the Health Department’s call to promote vaccination as a preventative measure, particularly against influenza. The agency urged parents and guardians to consult with their healthcare providers about vaccinations and recommended measures to protect their children’s health and reduce the spread of disease in school communities.
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