Page 1520 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 2 May 1990
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MR SPEAKER: You will not address your question to him directly. Please address it through the Chair, and do not talk over me, please.
Mr Berry: Can I ask for a - - -
MR SPEAKER: No, you have had your turn.
Head Lice
MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, my question is addressed to the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts. I asked him a question on 21 March 1990 about the infestation of head lice in schools in Canberra and what he intended doing about it. Amongst other things, he replied:
I am certainly not aware of any outbreak of head lice problems amongst Canberra's school population. I would be happy to investigate such an outbreak, if one has occurred, and to advise Mr Moore in due course as to the result of those inquiries.
Since then I have had numerous calls from constituents about the problem, and there have been articles in the Canberra Times, one on 27 April, raising the subject as it now seems to be in epidemic proportions, according to one of your own public servants, a paediatrician. I ask you once again: would you please inform the Assembly what steps your department is taking to alleviate the problem of head lice infestation in school children throughout Canberra.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, there may be a question of semantics involved here. I have heard the incidence of head lice in ACT schools at present described as an epidemic. The advice that I have received from my department is that it is not an epidemic in any use of the word. There may, however, be higher than normal levels of head lice infestation. I should make it clear to members of the Assembly that head lice are not like some diseases that have outbreaks only occasionally; they are a manifestation of something which occurs from time to time throughout the school year. It is a particular problem, given the very close contact of children at school. It spreads very quickly, and it can cause great inconvenience to parents who have to deal with it.
I am told, as I said, that there is no epidemic. Head lice are present from time to time in most primary schools, and high schools are also on occasion affected. We have guidelines - and I am very happy to table them for the benefit of Mr Moore - for the treatment and prevention of head lice in public schools in the ACT. These guidelines require notification to the school principal of all
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