The newly announced preventive measure for Covid-19 by the Ministry of Health which asks students to test for Covid-19 is not mandatory, a top health official has clarified. The announcement issued on January 10, as students returned back from their festive holidays, has raised a lot of questions and mixed reactions among the people. While some parents complained that there was little time within which to raise the money for testing, others said it was completely out of reach. Among the guidelines issued by the ministry, one reads: “Parents are encouraged to have their children tested for Covid-19 if they are five years old and above, using the Rapid Test.” However, during a discussion with a local radio station on Monday, Dr Tharcisse Mpunga, the Minister of State in charge of Primary Healthcare, said that it is not mandatory for students to test for Covid-19 before going to school. He added: “It is good for parents to know the state of health of their children. If you can afford it, you can do it.” The ministry also said that whenever the school requests the student to test for Covid-19 the administrators are instructed to allow parents to test their children using the rapid test. “All students with Covid-19 symptoms including cough, fever, and flu must not be sent to school. Instead, they should stay home and be tested until they recover,” it read as well. Mpunga also said that students of 12 years old and above will be given their second dose of vaccine during the first week of the second term of the academic year, hence, encouraging parents to do their best and send them to school. This applies to those who were not able to get their second jab during the holidays. He added that the ministry is in discussions to find what can be done for some students who are already in secondary schools but not yet of eligible age. Last year, on November 23 is when Rwanda Biomedical Centre started vaccinating adolescents of 12 years and above in various secondary schools, starting with those in the City of Kigali.
