Educators from public and private schools are invited to participate in a training workshop geared to deal with children who may have asthma attacks while at school.

Chief of Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Mrs. Gracia Wheatley-Smith said the objectives of the workshop include familiarising teachers with the symptoms of asthma; identifying the common triggers of asthma; teaching teachers how to use an asthma plan; sharing how asthma affects students’ learning; and enabling teachers to have hands-on training with the inhaler, the peak flow meter and the spacer.

Mrs. Wheatley-Smith said teachers will be empowered to intervene in assisting with an active case of asthma before emergency help arrives as the successful treatment of asthma is time sensitive.

The workshop is a joint effort between the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (OECS/PPS).

The workshop titled, “A Breath of Fresh Air: helping teachers deal with students with asthma” will be held in two sessions on February 14. The morning session begins at 9:00 a.m. and the afternoon session will begin at 1:00 p.m. The event will be held at the 3^rd Floor Student services Conference Room, Ward Building.

Head of the OECS/PPS Mr. Francis Burnett, his associate Mr. Abraham Weeks, Mrs. Wheatley-Smith and a cadre of trainers in asthma management are the facilitators. 

Early childhood teachers and other teachers can register with the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Education Officer of Co-Curricular Activities, Mrs. Heida F. Joyles-Selwood by telephoning 542-3100 or by emailing hjselwood@vischools.edu.vg.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide a caring and integrated system of health and social services that facilitates human development and improves the quality of life in the Virgin Islands.