CMO Makes Presentation on Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease to Educators
Basseterre: St. Kitts, Thursday, October 12, 2022: Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Hazel
Laws was the specially invited guest presenter at a meeting of school principals and Education
officials earlier today in an effort to raise awareness about the highly contagious hand, foot and
mouth disease currently which is known to be easily spread among children.
The CMO was invited as a means of providing critical information that would help curb the
spread of the virus which presented itself locally over the past few weeks, especially as schools
are high risk areas as far as the spread of such diseases.
Commenting on the fact that children are most susceptible to this virus Dr. Laws stated
“Good hygiene is the best protection against hand, foot and mouth disease. So each school will
need to reevaluate your prevention and control measures and make a determination as to what
you need to improve on such that your school will be doing its part towards reducing the spread
of this highly infectious disease.”
The Chief Medical Officer explained that prevention and control measures implemented at the
school level would be most effective in stopping the spread.
Prevention methods highlighted by Dr Laws included frequent clearing of high touch areas, no
sharing of toys, washing hands thoroughly and frequently throughout the day, avoiding sharing
cups and eating utensils, teaching children about cough etiquette as well as disposal of tissues.
Chief Education Officer Mr. Francil Morris said the awareness exercise was timely and critical
as the Ministry continues to seek to keep school spaces healthy and safe.
Also present at this meeting were new Permanent Secretary in this Ministry of Education Mrs.
Lisa Romayne Pistana and Deputy Chief Education Officer, Mr. Roger Woodley.
