Nousheen Akber Pradhan is a Coordinator for School Health Program at AKU. Email: [email protected] Kashmira Nanji is a Public Health Consultant and AKU Alumnus. Email: [email protected]
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Article Author: Reopening of schools amid Covid-19
Media Source: The Express Tribune (Pakistan)
Date: 9 September 2020
Nousheen Akber Pradhan and Kashmira Nanji, from the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, write that with significant drop in the Covid-19 transmission rate in Pakistan, the decision to reopen schools has been finally taken at the national level. This decision is encountering criticism as infection transmissibility even with…
Nousheen Akber Pradhan and Kashmira Nanji, from the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, write that with significant drop in the Covid-19 transmission rate in Pakistan, the decision to reopen schools has been finally taken at the national level. This decision is encountering criticism as infection transmissibility even with lower rates among children is well documented. The situation is further worsened by the fact that Pakistan’s education system also suffers from lack of adequate space in school premises; up to 130 students are documented sharing a classroom in primary schools. There are no clear answers that reopening of schools will cause a surge of Covid-19 in Pakistan or not. It is therefore crucial that planning to open schools is carefully undertaken and strictly applied at the provincial and district level.