UAE to make medical tests mandatory for school students

ABU DHABI, Nov. 12 (Chinese media) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government

will make medical tests mandatory for students during their enrollment process

in schools, local newspaper Khaleej Timesreported on Wednesday.

The mandatory tests, which will include blood and urine tests, are part of

the Health Ministry's school health program to detect and prevent diseases among

children at an early age, said the report.

The ministry's decision to make the tests mandatory firstly in public

schools results from the fact that diseases such as anaemia, diabetes and

thalassemia go undetected for years until they become full-blown cases, Fawzia

Al Jaziri, a senior official with the ministry, was quoted as saying.

The official added that "the tests will be conducted during the time of

admission among children of kindergarten 1, again when the child enters grade 5

and finally in grade 9."

According to the official, the tests will be handled by the school doctor

or nurse.

If a serious case is detected, it will be forwarded to a primary healthcare

center while the school doctor or the nurse will be required to maintain a

regular follow-up with the parents regarding proper treatment and medicine for

the student.

The schools will be required to train teachers to deal adequately with such

children.