Health agencies in the British Virgin Islands are preparing to host a series of meetings with operators of pre-schools and day-care facilities, parents and guardians, to address the recent Hand-Foot and Mouth disease outbreak.

The meetings will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the Environmental Health Division and the BVI Health Services Authority.

The sessions are geared to inform stakeholders on the epidemiological, legal and clinical particulars as well as preventative and control measures for infectious diseases such as Hand-Foot and Mouth disease.

Meetings will be held for parents and child-care workers in zones or areas where children attend early-childhood facilities.

The schedule for the upcoming meetings is as follows:

• Thursday, October 31 at the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School for the Sea Cow’s Bay and Duff’s Bottom areas.
• Friday, November 1 at the Leonora Delville Primary School for facilities in the Towers, West End and Carrot Bay areas.

• Monday, November 4 at the New Testament Church of God for the areas of Pasea, Purcell, Johnsons Ghut, Baughers Bay and Belle Vue.
• Tuesday, November 5 at the Long Look Methodist Church Hall for the areas of Vanterpool Estate and Fat Hog’s Bay.
• Wednesday November 6 at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School for the Lower Estate, Huntum’s Ghut, Great Mountain and Main Street areas.

All meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. All parents, guardians and stakeholders are asked to make a special effort to attend the sessions. For more information persons can contact the Ministry of Health and Social Development at 468-2274 or the Environmental Health Division at 468-5110.

Note: Letter of Memorandum that details facilities.