BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 12, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, today, Friday, March 12, handed over five new computer labs to five primary schools in St. Kitts that will enhance the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the classroom.
The five schools that benefited from this generous contribution by Ross University were the Edgar T. Morris Primary School, Estridge Primary, Violet Petty Primary, Sandy Point Primary, and the Newton Ground Primary School.
Brief ceremonies were held at each school today to symbolically cut the ribbons and hand over the computer labs.
The ceremonies were attended by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris; Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. William Vincent Hodge, and Dean of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Sean Callanan.
While delivering remarks at the Edgar T. Morris Primary School, Dr. Callanan said that Ross University recognises the importance of access to education and its link to the development of the Federation.
Dean Callanan told the students that, “There are many things that help you succeed in the world. Your parents and your wonderful teachers believe it or not also help you succeed. But also, what helps you to succeed is your access to education and not everyone in the world has access to education. Access to education is very much dependent on governments, very much dependent on what they can put in place and here in this country they have been doing a wonderful job in enhancing your educational experience so that you are ready to take on the world over time. And so, we were delighted in 2016 when we did get the opportunity to partner and help empower the people of St. Kitts and Nevis to a better education.”
The Honourable Jonel Powell noted that Ross University has long been a responsible corporate partner here in St. Kitts and Nevis.
He added, “This partnership…with Ross University is one that we’re very appreciative of especially at this time where we are not just facing local but indeed international challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that resources are scarce, however, Ross University has stuck to its commitment to partner with the Ministry of Education and the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, and this morning we are able to bring online five computer labs in five primary schools across St. Kitts.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Harris said through this initiative, Ross University has effectively brought the knowledge of the world to the fingertips of the nation’s children.
“Today’s contribution and donation of computer labs to five schools will ensure that we empower our students to be able to contribute and to become beneficiaries of the stronger and safer future. I want therefore to thank the Dean on behalf of all of us in St. Kitts and Nevis for the constructive role that Ross University and all of its affiliated entities have been playing in the socio-economic life of the country. Thank you for also recognizing that part of the giving back to society is dictated by the quality of the corporate social responsibility which we see depicted in one way here through your efforts to assist in the digitalization of our curriculum development in St. Kitts and Nevis,” Prime Minister Harris said.
In addition to the five recipient schools today, Ross University had previously upgraded or delivered brand new computer labs to five other schools on the island.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 25, 2021 (SKNIS): In April of 2018, the Department of Agriculture and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine entered into an agreement to introduce a Goat Breeding Programme with an objective to improve the Federation’s local goat flock.
Director of Agriculture, Melvin James, announced during the radio and television show ‘Working for You’ on February 24 that the Department of Agriculture is proud to announce successes in the Goat Breeding Programme.
He said, “I am happy to report that we have brought in three males and so far, we are able to get 103 young kids from the breeding programme.”
“As we speak about transforming agriculture, one of the things we have to do is to be able to get the animals to have a greater weight gain in a shorter period of time,” Mr. James said. “We introduced a more superior blood, a more superior male that grows faster and puts on weight faster.”
The name of this special type of goat breed is called the Boer which is a goat specialized for meat as it is well known for putting on weight in a shorter period of time.
“The Federation has available to it now 103 improved animals and of course we will continue to do breeding, and we have 34 males so those can be used as stud males, some 68 females, and so they are available for sale, and folks can have them and improve their stock.”
The Goat Breeding Programme initially began in 2018 at Bayford’s but experienced setbacks such as sickness of animals, shortage of water, and lack of transportation.
The animals were then moved to a private farm in Parson’s Village where the breeding resumed in March of this year.
The overall budget for the Goat Feeding Programme is an estimated EC $18, 663.91.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, February 11, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Understanding that tertiary level education makes one of the greatest contributions to the Federation’s overall growth and development, the Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris-led Team Unity administration remains resolute in its commitment to assist its citizens and residents to pursue and achieve a higher education.
Prime Minister Harris gave this reassurance when he addressed the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, February 10. At that ceremony, students of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) and the Nevis Sixth Form College were presented with scholarships to continue their educational journey.
“Education is empowerment. The ability of a good education to lift people up and inspire those around them should not be underestimated,” said Prime Minister Harris in his remarks.
The prime minister stated that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, should be able to access a high-quality education.
“For this reason, my Government has directly supported hundreds of students with their economic costs and other fees payable to Universities such as UWI, UVI, Monroe and other institutions around the world. These beneficiaries include national scholars and runners-up, teachers, and other civil servants and persons drawn from both the private and public sector,” Prime Minister Harris said.
Over the last 5 years, the Team Unity administration invested over $50 million in the tertiary level education of hundreds of persons, including 50 teachers pursuing their master’s degree.
$10 million was budgeted for 2021 to help defray economic and other costs of students’ participation in tertiary level training at the University of the West Indies (UWI), University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), Monroe College, and others.
Prime Minister Harris said this has been the strongest and most consistent support at the tertiary level ever provided, but noted that the Government cannot do it alone.
“An all-of-society approach is required. The private sector too must support education and training. We must continue to find other good and caring corporate and non-governmental citizens, in the same vein as Ross University. It is not just the wish, but a determined goal of my government, that the new legacy for successive generations of St. Kitts and Nevis, is that every child who has the capacity and the desire for tertiary education, is afforded the means or mechanism to achieve this. Let it be that none in St. Kitts and Nevis shall be denied,” the prime minister said.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 11, 2021 (SKNIS): Thanks to the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) Scholarships Awards Programme, 19 students, 17 from St. Kitts and two from Nevis, were awarded scholarships to pursue studies at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) and the Nevis Sixth Form College.
Four years ago, Ross University established the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Scholarships Awards Programme and this was instituted to award academically deserving students, who have had a financial need that would otherwise have made it difficult for them to attend the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College or the Nevis Sixth Form College.
Totalling 54 scholarships to date, the scholarship programme provides financial support up to two years of tuition books and other fees, a stipend towards uniform and transportation, and six weeks of paid internship at the Ross University.
Speaking at the awards ceremony on February 10, Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell, said that Ross University has “built an impressive record of assistance and support for education at all levels be it primary, secondary and tertiary.”
In quoting the RUSVM Dean, Minister Powell said, “This very sentiment is echoed by Dean Callanan where he said that as an educational institution RUSVM embodies the mantra that education is empowerment.”
“Therefore, when we can support education at any level it is a win, win for all. Such sentiments as expressed by Dean Callanan underpinned the university’s deep commitment to advancing education in our Federation,” he added.
Minister Powell stated that over the years, the partnership with Ross University has benefited successive Ministries of Education. He added that the children and young people of St. Kitts and Nevis have benefited and continue to do so tremendously.
The Education Minister said that the key message that the university is communicating is that financial challenges must not stand in the way of students obtaining a quality tertiary level education.
He added that he is particularly grateful to Ross University for introducing the scholarship programme in light of the fact that the statistics suggest that St. Kitts and Nevis has one of the lowest enrolments in tertiary level education in the region.
“This commitment from Ross University to provide scholarships for higher education will therefore serve as a booster or catalyst for increasing the enrolment of secondary school students in higher education,” said the minister. “Our students have already recognised that a college-level education is critical not only for personal self-advancement but also to be equipped to contribute to the development of our country, hence a compelling reason for urging you the students to take full advantage of these scholarships.”
Minister Powell said that Ross University should be highly commended for ensuring that the scholarships are geared towards building and enhancing the human resource capacity of the nation.
He stated that the scholarship programme is in perfect alignment with his ministry’s vision for education in the Federation.
He noted that the scholarship programme is not just for students who demonstrate strong academic abilities, but is also designed to promote the empowerment of students, promote diversity, gender equity, leadership, as well as to support students who pursue Technical and Vocational Studies in air conditioning, electrical, mechanics, plumbing, and the like.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, February 11, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – At a ceremony held at its campus on Wednesday, February 10, the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) awarded scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year to 19 students of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College and the Nevis Sixth Form College to assist them in the pursuit of higher education.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris; Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell; Junior Minister of Education on Nevis, the Honourable Troy Liburd; faculty and staff of Ross University, including its Dean Dr. Sean Callanan, and this year’s scholarship recipients.
In addressing Wednesday’s scholarship awards ceremony, Prime Minister Harris commended Ross University for its continued contribution to the educational advancement of some of the nation’s youths through its annual scholarship programme that is now in its fourth year.
“Ross University is rightly to be commended. Institutions of learning often offer in house scholarships for their students. It is not often that they fund studies at another institution of learning. We believe that this demonstrates that Ross University recognizes the varied talents and disciplines needed to build that stronger, safer future for St. Kitts and Nevis and that it is doing its part as a good and caring corporate citizen,” Prime Minister Harris said.
The St. Kitts and Nevis prime minister further noted that the awarding of the scholarships will ensure that academically deserving students are not held back, but rather are given the chance to reach their full potential.
Dr. Harris added, “What does it mean when Ross University awards you a scholarship? Yes, it says you have reached a certain academic level and that you have demonstrated an academic ability. But these scholarships say so much more than that. They say the university believes in your potential. They say the university has faith in you and that you will make a significant contribution in the future to your community and our beloved country of St. Kitts and Nevis. As your prime minister, I stand here today to say that – like Ross University – your Federation also believes in you and we too will work with you to help you become all, in fact, the best that you can be.”
The Ross University scholarship covers tuition, books, and fees, as well as a stipend for uniform and transportation. It assists students studying in a wide range of fields, from business to natural sciences, hospitality to automotive engineering, from accounting to electrical and electronics engineering, and from teacher education to law and sociology.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (January 20, 2021) — Hon. Hazel Brandy-Williams, Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), says while the surgical team at the Alexandra Hospital is being celebrated for life-saving surgery on a shark attack victim by doctors in the United States of America and the management of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM), the health facility will continue to deliver top notch service to locals as well.
Mrs. Brandy-Williams made the comment when she spoke to the Department of Information on January 20, 2021, on the heels of the expressions of gratitude and commendation disclosed in a St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) press release dated January 15, 2021.
“We celebrate the accolades from the US doctors and we will continue to ensure that our residents receive similar care at our facility. The Ministry of Health and Gender Affairs looks forward to better days ahead for our people as we continue to provide the quality service that they need. Our mantra for 2021 is ‘The Year of Endless Possibilities.’ We endeavour to exceed all expectations by providing professional service,” she said.
The junior Health Minister also used the opportunity to commend the surgical team at the hospital for its noteworthy efforts to save the RUSVM medical student attacked by a shark while swimming with friends.
“The shark attack on January 9th that threw the Federation into a frenzy was quite unfortunate for a Ross University female student. I wish to compliment the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who played a role in making the student’s experience at Alexandra Hospital as pleasant and as successful as possible.
“The surgical team, headed by Dr. Cardell Rawlins, must be commended for their quick and effective response to the situation which could have ended tragically. The information shared was that everyone was calm and very efficient,” she said.
The SKNIS release noted that during a virtual meeting with Dr. The Hon. Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, on January 15, 2021, a three-member team of senior officials from the RUSVM called to express gratitude and offer commendation to the Coast Guard, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the surgical team at the Alexandra Hospital in Nevis, for their quick response in assisting one of their students who suffered significant injury in a shark attack.
“The officials passed on compliments from the trauma team in the USA to the medical team on the island, stating that the surgery was comparable to anything that could have been performed anywhere in the US. It was also said that the quick response obviously prevented the situation from being far worse,” the release stated.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 15, 2021 (SKNIS): A three-member team of senior officials from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) called today (January 15) to express gratitude and offer commendation to the Coast Guard, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the surgical team at the Alexandra Hospital in Nevis for their quick response in assisting one of their students who suffered significant injury in a shark attack. The officials passed on compliments from the trauma team in the USA to the medical team on the island and opined that the surgery was comparable to anything that could have been performed anywhere in the US. It was also said that the quick response obviously prevented the situation from being far worse.
Commander of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, Lieutenant Colonel J. Anthony Comrie, thanked the team for its compliments and was happy that the training which his officers received was put into action and was equally glad that they could have ably assisted the student.
The virtual meeting was attended by Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, Cabinet Secretary Josephine Huggins, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws, Medical Chief of Staff at the JNF General Hospital Dr. Cameron Wilkinson, Commissioner of Police, Hilroy Brandy and Lieutenant Colonel J. Anthony Comrie.
Prime Minister Harris expressed thanks to the RUSVM officials for their words of commendation for the high level of support and professionalism of the government team both at the federal level and the Nevis Island Administration.
Prime Minister Harris indicated that the strong bonds between the Government and the RUSVM will be further strengthened.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 07, 2021 (SKNIS): On January 06, 2021, two chartered flights entered St. Kitts and Nevis from Miami and Puerto Rico carrying students from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM).
According to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, during her Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) presentation at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Press Briefing on January 06, this is the sixth batch of students for the university.
The charter from Miami brought in 87 students, while five students would have arrived on the charter from Puerto Rico. A total of 92 students would have been transferred from the RLB International Airport to the dorm on the RUSVM campus.
“The students would have had their pre-arrival RT-PCR tests done in Miami on Monday and only those with negative results would have boarded the charter,” she said. “Then upon arriving at the RUSVM campus this afternoon their Nasopharyngeal Swabs would have been taken upon arrival.”
The Chief Medical Officer said that their samples will be processed, and the students have been placed in quarantine at the dorms for 14 days. After, they will receive their exit RT-PCR tests. Once they are negative, the students will be free to attend classes and integrate into society.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 14, 2020 (SKNIS): In an effort to further advance the Agricultural product within the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine is contributing to the livestock sector with donating new breeds of cattle and sheep to the Department of Agriculture in an initiative called “livestock breeding initiative”.
According to President of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Tyler Oxley, the purpose of the initiative is to grow the Federation’s national herd and diversify the genetic pool and to allow for the long term goal of St. Kitts and Nevis becoming self-sustainable in its production of cattle.
During a handing over ceremony at Mansion on November 12, Associate Professor Dr. Aspinas Chapwanya said that “We are happy again to be able to be here on this day where we are still enhancing our livestock production on the island.”
He added, “The Ross students that have been instrumental in the programme have put together some money and acquired a bull that they will be donating to the Department of Agriculture.”
Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Alexis Jeffers, who accepted the donation on behalf of the Department of Agriculture said, “It gives me great pleasure to stand here and express how thankful we are and profound that this particular initiative is for the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
“We are receiving this bull this morning and I want to say that we have seen the demand for beef and beef products here in the Federation … more particularly, we have seen an increase in the demand for beef burgers and also ground beef,” said Honourable Jeffers.
He added, “Many persons who are displaced at this time who would have worked in the service industry have found themselves in small businesses that are utilising some of these products both in Nevis and St. Kitts.”
Others who attended the handing over ceremony were the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ron Dublin-Collins, Dean of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Sean Callanan, President of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Tyler Oxley, and Ross student Kaitlyn Guidry.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 13th , 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
Efforts being made by the Department of Agriculture and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine continue with aims to strengthen, improve and increase livestock and meat production in St. Kitts.
This was evident following the donation of 3 Boer Buck goats to the Department of Agriculture at Island Country Farm in Parsons Village on Thursday morning.
The Department of Agriculture and Ross University entered into an agreement to introduce a Breeding Program with an objective to improve the federation’s local flock and the dress weight of goat carcass.
During brief remarks, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Alexis Jeffers said “Ross has been a very good corporate partner in the area of Agriculture and more specifically in terms of improving the Breeding programme here in the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis”.
He used the opportunity to highlight the advantages of having our local farmers raise the animals to produce quality meat. He said our people can always stand confident with the type of meat that is being consumed.
“Throughout the world these days we are hearing about food and meat being raised in a lab or meat that is being glued together and exported to various parts of the world. Now the important thing about visiting a farm like this, you get a very good idea as to the effort that is being put into breeding these animals and raising them as well. They are being raised in a hygienic way, they are being raised in a humane way and that is what we want to happen here in the federation”, he said.
Dr. Sean Callanan, Dean of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine noted the importance of the Goat Breeding Programme.
“The importance here is the genetic diversification of animals and how that improves the quality of the animal and it basically ultimately ends up as the quality of the product that is on your plate. None of this would have been possible without the involvement of students and I do want to stress, we have some of them here today, that these were the brains behind this initiative and gave us the power to really move forward with it”, Dr. Callanan said.
The Dean also expressed that he was grateful for the partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and his team.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ron Dublin Collins commended goat breeders and Owners of Island Country Farm, Mr and Mrs Neal and Michelle Mitchell and said that it is the hope of the Ministry to expand the initiative to other farms as well.
Farmer Neal thanked all stakeholders for helping to make the program possible.
Associate Professor at Ross University, Dr. Aspinas Chapwanya, a representative from the Small Ruminant club at Ross University, Director of Agriculture, Melvin James, livestock officers and other officials from the Department of Agriculture were present at the handing over ceremony.
The Goat Breeding Program initially began in 2018 at Bayford’s but experienced setbacks such as sickness of animals, shortage of water and lack of transportation.
The animals were then moved to Island Country Farms in Parsons Village where the breeding resumed in March 2019.
Just about 40 offspring have so far been bred as a result of the program.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 15, 2020 (SKNIS): A total of 155 students, who attend the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM), has returned to St. Kitts and Nevis on October 14 and are now in quarantine.
“So four flights would have just landed. One flight from Miami with 135 persons and three flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico, with 20 persons,” said Dr. Hazel Laws, Chief Medical Officer, during the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Press Briefing on October 14.
Dr. Laws said that this is the fourth batch of students returning to the Federation. She noted that they have been tested upon arrival.
The Chief Medical Officer stated that they would have been tested within 72 hours before boarding their flights.
“Those results were all negative,” she said. “So they were granted permission to board the flight to the Federation. So upon arrival, their samples are being taken as we speak at the Ross Campus and then the samples will be processed. They go into compulsory quarantine for 14 days. They will be tested again on day 14 and once their PCR test is negative, then they will be free to integrate into society.”
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 24, 2020 (SKNIS): One hundred and sixteen students, who will attend the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM), arrived in St. Kitts and Nevis on September 23, via a charter flight from Miami.
In a few more days another charter from San Juan will bring in an additional eight students. This would be the third batch of students coming to the Federation to attend the RUSVM.
Speaking at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Press Briefing on September 23, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, reminded the public that there are procedures still in place for the arrival of the students.
“These students would have received their pre-arrival RTPCR Test in Miami. They would have been sampled on Monday. The results would have been returned all negative and they would have arrived in country. They will be tested upon arrival,” she said.
Dr. Laws added that the Ministry of Health has a team on campus awaiting the arrival of the students for testing.
“They will receive a test upon arrival. They will go into compulsory quarantine for a total of 14 days on the RUSVM campus and then on day 14 of quarantine they will be tested again,” she said.
The Chief Medical Officer stated that it is only when they would have received a negative RTPCR test would they be officially discharged from quarantine and would be allowed to integrate into the general population within the Federation.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 3, 2020 (ZIZ News):The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis welcomed a second batch of students from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) who arrived at the R. L Bradshaw International Airport on Wednesday September 2 2020.
ZIZ understands that a total of 158 students and faculty disembarked the aircraft to prepare for the start of the next Academic semester.
This group follows the first batch of students who returned to the RUSVM campus after a successful execution of a similar plan in July.
The Ministry of Health and the National COVID-19 Task Force collaborated with the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine to develop a robust plan to facilitate the return of the students. It includes pre-screening for signs of COVID-19, testing for COVID-19 immediately before their return to the Federation and again immediately upon arrival into St. Kitts.
A two-week quarantine period in on campus housing, under physician care began on the 2nd September under the supervision of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force.
Chair of the National COVID-19 Taskforce, Abdias Samuel, thanked all involved for making the return possible.
I want to thank the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force along with the members of the taskforce and also members of the HEOC in collaboration with the Ross University Faculty who have been working assiduously on the ground to ensure that all the protocols and procedures are followed to ensure a smooth process”, he expressed.
In a statement released by Ross University, Dean of RUSVM Sean Callanan states, “Our partnership with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has been instrumental in facilitating a safe return for our students and all community members.”
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – August 31, 2020 – The Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis is happy to welcome a group of students from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) back to our community. This cohort follows the first group of students who returned to campus last month to complete a vital part of their education before entering the veterinary profession.
RUSVM has developed a robust plan for this return, which includes pre-screening for signs of COVID-19. Students will be tested for COVID-19 immediately before returning to the Federation and again upon arrival into St. Kitts. They will then commence a two-week quarantine period in on campus housing, under physician care and under the supervision of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force and RUSVM security. Students will be tested for a third time at the end of quarantine. They will maintain social distancing guidelines and utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) once in person instruction begins.
“This is the second cohort of students returning to the Federation, after a successful execution of a similar plan in July,” said Sean Callanan, MVB, CERTVR, MRCVS, Ph.D., FRCPATH, DIPLECVP, dean of RUSVM. “Our partnership with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has been instrumental in facilitating a safe return for our students and all community members.”
The St. Kitts & Nevis government has been working closely with RUSVM to develop this comprehensive plan. This first step in a thoughtful return will assist the local economy in its recovery during this pandemic and allow us to develop a best practice as we prepare to welcome students and visitors to the island in the future.
“The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the COVID-19 Task Force are collaborating with the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) to facilitate the return of the 7th semester students,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws. “Approximately 170 persons, including faculty and students, are expected to arrive via charter this week and all established COVID-19 protocols will be followed.”
The students will arrive on island Wednesday, September 2. The two-week quarantine will commence immediately.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 27, 2020 (SKNIS): The National COVID-19 Task Force and the administration at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) expect to strengthen a successful quarantine, monitoring and testing programme for students returning from abroad to continue their studies.
Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Abdias Samuel, said that over 150 RUSVM students and faculty will return to St. Kitts on September 02, 2020. They will undergo a similar programme of quarantine and testing that was implemented in July when 124 RUSVM students returned to the island.
The students were tested and had to have a positive result before entering the island. Upon arrival, they were tested again and were placed in mandatory quarantine for 14-days at facilities on the university compound. The quarantine area was guarded by school security as well as law enforcement to ensure that there were no breaches. All students were tested at the end of the quarantine period. Each returned a negative RT-PCR test, and they were allowed to integrate into society.
“We are going to be working with the Ross University to ensure that the process that was applied before is strengthened and is applied more effectively,” Mr Samuel said at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) COVID-19 Briefing held on Wednesday, August 26, 2020.
Mr Samuel thanked the RUSVM for its ongoing commitment to follow the national guidelines and protocols relating to the coronavirus.
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