Preventive measures taken to halt outbreak at child care centre

I refer to the letter, “Were Warnings Issued to Child Care Centres” by Mr

See Leong Kit (15 October 2008).

2 Gastroenteritis is usually caused by a group of viruses, including norovirus

and rotavirus. In most cases, it is usually self limiting with symptoms lasting
about 1 to 2 days. MCYS and the Ministry of Health (MOH) worked closely with
the centre to halt further transmission of the disease by ensuring that appropriate
preventive measures such as the frequent washing of hands and the thorough
disinfection of utensils, toys and premises.

3 All child care centres are required to promptly report cases of infectious
diseases, including gastroenteritis, to MCYS and MOH. They are required to
comply with MOH’s "Guidelines on the Prevention & Control of Infectious
Disease in Child Care Centres/Kindergartens/Pre-school Centres", which are
accessible to the public via
http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/publications.aspx?id=2962. Schools have been
advised to adopt precautionary measures and enhance their surveillance for viral
gastroenteritis amongst the children.

4 In the Cherie Hearts case, MCYS and MOH conducted the necessary
checks on the centre and staff, to ensure that the centre met hygiene
requirements. The centre had also informed all the parents early, and worked
closely with them in a concerted effort to control the outbreak. Both MCYS and
MOH will continue to monitor the centre.

5 Our children’s health and safety are the Ministry’s paramount concern and
we will take all necessary actions should a centre be found to be in breach of
licensing requirements.

Lee Kim Hua

Director
Family Services Division
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
Were warnings issued to childcare centres?

RECENTLY, there were reports on three incidents that are of great concern to
parents with young children under the care of child minders or childcare centres.

At Cherie Hearts@Chevron, a childcare centre in Boon Lay Way, at least 21 out

of 64 children were taken ill with symptoms such as vomiting and fever.

An unnamed Health Ministry official told the reporter that preliminary findings
suggest an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu).

It was also reported that at the Punggol Central Education Centre under the PAP
Community Foundation, a four-year-old girl slashed another four-year- old girl on
her leg with a razor.

Did the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports make public
announcements or issue warnings to the childcare centres in the wake of these
two incidents?

Another report said that a young couple had placed their then four-month-old
baby girl in the care of a nanny.

The nanny called them one day to tell them that their daughter had been
admitted to the emergency unit of National University Hospital.

Doctors said the baby had been shaken so hard, she was bleeding in her brain
and eyes.

Following their statement to the police on the incident, the nanny was issued with
a stern warning.

Would this send the wrong signal to other child minders?

I believe concerned parents expect no less than a detailed explanation as to why

the offender was not prosecuted.

In the United States, a child minder guilty of causing shaken baby syndrome
would face a jail sentence.

Mr See Leong Kit