Parents of children suffering from medical conditions urge for more awareness at schools. Edwina Cottino, a South African food blogger in Dubai, and mother of two boys, told Gulf News that her eldest son, Gianluca, 11, has been going through a challenging time at school. “He is intolerant to 40 foods including gluten which is common in oats, ketchup and soya sauce. He was diagnosed last year. At school, he is teased regularly; students force food he cannot eat or say rude things like, ‘I am so glad I am not you’ and ‘Your life is sad’,” she said. Highlighting the need for awareness, she said schools should work towards educating students about the need to stop discriminating and mistreating their peers with medical conditions. “Kids with intolerance and other health issues should not be teased or made to feel different. Further school canteens should cater for children with special preferences. Teachers too need to be educated.” Cottino explained that during a recent school field trip to Greece, her son returned with skin eruptions. “Though I communicated with the school regarding the list of food [intolerance] as well as the recommended alternatives, it was disregarded.”She said Gianluca shows tremendous strength of character and willpower when dealing with his food issues. “He has taken it in his stride, although I know it must be difficult for him.”An official at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) said there are no particular guidelines about students with medical conditions but that KHDA survey findings about schools suggest they need to develop strategies to help include students with any special needs. Another Dubai parent, Huma Ehtisham whose child has learned to cope with Type 1 diabetes, echoed Cottino’s sentiment. Her son Faris, now seven, was diagnosed when he was two and a half. She said: “On Faris’s request, I made a presentation in his classroom, explaining Type 1 diabetes to the students. They were all very inquisitive and receptive.” Though Faris has not been bullied due to his condition that requires him to take insulin injections at regular intervals, his mother believes that early awareness is key to preventing discrimination. She said: “His peers do not bother him. They are young, and usually have their own stories of ‘not crying at the doctor’s’. A few mature kids ask if insulin shots hurt or how many times Faris needs the injections. However, as students grow, awareness needs to increase as they might become more aware of the differences or become more judgmental.”Basic health status Dr Maneesha Sanjeev Phadke, GP and school medical officer at Al Diyafah School, said they had a fully equipped medical clinic with qualified and experienced staff. “We have students who suffer from various medical conditions like asthma, thalassemia, food intolerance, obesity, borderline diabetes, congenital heart disease, and epilepsy. With regards to students with chronic ailments, the school clinic requests parents to submit a detailed medical report of the child with the name of his or her doctor and details about the hospital of treatment. With some students, we also request their emergency medication to be kept with labels and detailed prescription from their treating doctor with the school clinic. Other students, teachers and supervisors are aware of the basic health status of the child and are compassionate and careful in handling these kids.”from gulfnews.com