Medical Inspectorate aims to achieve “a healthy school”

Didier Gamerdinger, Conseiller-Ministre des Affaires Sociales et de la Santé et Alexandre Bordero, Directeur de l’Action Sanitaire, en présence de l'équipe de la division de l’inspection médicale des scolaires ©DR

Minister of Health and Social Affairs Didier Gamerdinger visited the Medical Inspectorate for Schools on Wednesday 15 January, accompanied by Alexandre Bordero, the Director of Health Affairs.

Ensuring that pupils are in good health and identifying and treating disorders are essential to successful learning, and so the Medical Inspectorate for Schools, which operates under the authority of the Department of Health Affairs (DASA), monitors the health of all the Principality’s pupils, carrying out regular early screening examinations for certain developmental disorders, learning difficulties or illnesses that could affect pupils’ health or future education.

These regular examinations were established by Act No. 1.334, dated 12/07/2007 on education.

The role of the Medical Inspectorate for Schools forms part of a policy of promoting pupil health, supporting each student from nursery to upper secondary school, according to their specific physical and/or mental health needs and offering its expertise in diagnosis at the earliest possible stage.

The Inspectorate is responsible for: 

-          screening for sensory impairments (sight, hearing), possible somatic complaints, static disorders, and physiological and/or behavioural problems, as well as growth monitoring and keeping an immunisation record;

-          conducting specific assessments in the first and third year of nursery school to identify difficulties with language and learning;

-          monitoring the health of pupils in conjunction with their general practitioner and/or specialist;

-          identifying psychological problems and situations where pupils are in distress;

-          promoting individual and group health and contributing to prevention and training programmes;

-          monitoring pupils with disabilities;

-          carrying out the following tasks as part of public health programmes: preventing obesity in conjunction with the WHO, preventing risk behaviours and addiction (including education and management of good screen practices);

-          gathering statistical data on the health of the school population

Team members

• two doctors working in tandem with two nurses;
• a nurse who makes specific visits to carry out annual dental examinations for each pupil – this programme is organised with the Monaco College of Dental Surgeons from January to May;
• a secretariat: an assistant is available every day to provide a link between families, doctors and the various partners (Department of Education, Youth and Sport, Plati Centre, private practitioners, etc.).

The doctors can be freely contacted and consulted, with no need for any preliminary steps to be taken. There is no charge for consultations.

Systematic, regular examinations are carried out throughout the school year at primary and secondary schools by the medical/nursing team from the Medical Inspectorate for Schools in conjunction with school nurses.

The Medical Inspectorate for Schools organises and carries out examinations at the request of teaching staff, school psychosocial health teams, parents, doctors or other healthcare professionals (speech therapists, psychologists).

In all cases, the Medical Inspectorate for Schools may be contacted and consulted with regard to specific situations in conjunction with the various partners involved with a pupil – parents, the Department of Education, the Plati Centre, Princess Grace Hospital and private therapists – and contributes to a review of school counselling arrangements.

For Didier Gamerdinger, “early diagnosis is critical, since school is often the first entry point for accessing preventive care that supports pupils’ wellbeing.”

MEDICAL INSPECTORATE FOR SCHOOLS
57 Rue Grimaldi, Le Panorama Bloc AB - MC 98000 MONACO
Tel.: (+377) 98.98.88.21 / Fax: (+377) 93.30.32.71
Doctors and inspectors:

Dr Jeanne-Marie Bermon
Dr Valérie Jermon

Assistant:

Mme Sandrine VANZO.

Nurses:

Mme Sandrine GRILLET.
Mme Lucie OEHLER.