Health Screening Required for New Students

All students entering government or private schools in the Cayman Islands for the first time must have health screenings.

Noting that this includes students entering reception programs, School Health Coordinator Nurse Carvell Bailey-Able adds: “The Education Department mandates that these screenings must be completed before the new school year begins in September.”

School entry health screening is essential to identify any issues early, so your child can achieve their full potential in school. The screening includes a growth and development assessment, screening for vision and hearing, a dental assessment, administering necessary immunizations, and obtaining a student’s medical history.

Public Health Department staff will conduct the screenings, which are free to all students. Health screenings will take place at the district health centers from 5 to 29 June 2023 for those entering schools in West Bay and the Eastern districts.

For all other students, health screenings will occur at John Gray High School Medical Centre (nurse’s office) from 5 July to 18 August 2023.

Nurse Bailey – Able reminds parents and guardians that they need to accompany children to the health screening. They should also bring the child’s immunisation record. Appointments can be made at the school the child will be attending.

“Vaccines will be offered to children whose immunisations are not up-to-date. A health screening certificate will then be issued, which is to be taken to the child’s school,” she explained.

Parents may have their child’s health screenings done by a private doctor as long as that doctor completes the school health screening forms provided by the Public Health Department. 

The completed forms should be handed in at the John Gray High School Medical Centre (nurse’s office) between 5 July and 18 August, from 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Outside of these dates, the forms can be taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital’s Public Health Clinic (Smith Road  Centre).

Once the record has been received, a health screening certificate will be issued, which must then be taken to the school the child will enter in September.

In Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, appointments for school entry screenings can be made by contacting Public Health Nurse Kedine Hyde at Faith Hospital at 948-2243/244-7643.

Detailed information sheets for parents and guardians are available at the schools. For more information, please contact Nurse Carvell Bailey- Able at 244-2735 and 244-2648.