News of the week of the 27th of March : HIV self-test kits now legal

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Published on 2023-03-31 at 08:43 by Lila Chaleon*
In the news this week, an amendment allows commercialisation of HIV self-test kits. Also, a new school calendar for public schools.

An HIV and AIDS Bill voted on Tuesday

The HIV and AIDS Act was amended on Tuesday March 28 by the Mauritian parliament to allow the commercialization of self-test kits. This could be a game-changer in earlier diagnosis of HIV and therefore, facilitate treatment.

A new school calendar for public schools

Eight additional school days have been added to the school calendar for public schools by the Ministry of Education. Announced earlier this week, the aim of this extension is to allow students to catch up after the series of school closures due to bad weather.

The first term will be extended by three days. This means that classes will be held on Monday the 3rd, Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th of April and schools will break on the 6th of April.

Similarly, the third term for secondary schools will be extended by a week with classes being held as early as the 31st of July instead of from the 7th of August as initially announced. That is an additional week of school for secondary school students.

As for primary schools, classes wil resume on the 7th of August instead of on August 14. 

The school year will end on October 31st for primary school, and November 3rd for secondary school.

Tribute to the victims of March 30, 2013

The annual tribute to the victims of the floods of March 30, 2013 took place this Thursday. Relatives of the victims gathered around a stele erected at the entrance to the Caudan underground for a wreath laying ceremony.

As a reminder, just 10 years ago, 11 people lost their lives in this fateful “flash flood” in Port-Louis.