New Delhi: The Delhi government has directed state-run schools to create awareness among the students about vector-borne diseases, officials said. The season of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and malaria in Delhi has already started. These are all mosquito generated diseases and at times gain epidemic proportions if preventive measures are not taken, according to a circular issued on Tuesday (April 25).
In order to control and prevent the outbreak of these diseases, it is essential to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and students should be made aware of it, the circular stated.
All heads of government, government-aided and private unaided recognised schools under the Directorate of Education have been directed to share the awareness instructions in the circular with the students and the staff members to follow at home, it said.
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The instructions state,
To avoid mosquito bites, wear full-sleeved clothing and use mosquito repellents. Message regarding prevention and control of dengue, malaria and chikungunya should be given during assembly or classes. Cover all water tanks and containers with well fitted lids to the prevent breeding of mosquitoes. All coolers should be scrubbed and cleaned once a week and mopped dry before refilling water. In coolers that cannot be emptied, put one tablespoon of petrol or diesel. All unused containers, junk materials, tyres, coconut shells etc. should be properly disposed off. Change water in flower vases, plant and bird pots every week to prevent mosquito breeding. Cover the toilet seat if going out of home for more than a week.
The heads of schools have also been instructed to depute class teachers or any assigned teacher to share the instructions with all the students and carry out poster making, slogan writing, ‘nukkad natak’, poem recitation.
Each school will have to submit a report on the activities undertaken to the respective zonal deputy director of education from July, it stated.
A nodal officer is to be appointed in each school who will be responsible for all the activities related to the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases and monitoring of the activities being carried out.
The nodal officer will also conduct regular checking of the school building during which the possible breeding sites to be checked are some of the points mentioned in the action plan, the circular stated.
All district deputy directors of education have also been asked to submit a compliance report by August, it added.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
