Civic body launches ‘swine flu quit India’ campaign in schools,colleges

Appealing the representatives of the institutions to carry out the campaign,Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade said that the campaign has a five-point agenda — adopting cleanliness habits like washing hands frequently,covering mouth while sneezing or coughing,avoiding crowded places,home quarantine if swine flu symptoms are seen and spreading awareness about the disease. The PMC will issue a circular to all educational institutions in Pune giving details of the five point agenda.

Giving a day-to-day schedule to implement this agenda,Zagade said on Thursday,the participants must understand the points in the agenda,on Friday,pass on the information to their colleagues. On Mondays,dedicate the first period of school timetable to educate students on these points and ask them to further communicate to their parents. Finally,take a count of how many students actually told their parents about the five-point agenda.

“Schools must dedicate about 15 minutes of the first period to impart knowledge about swine flu and this five-point agenda until the government declares that the swine flu threat is over,” said Zagade.

The district administration had directed the educational institutions to closedown since August 11 after the city registered an increase in the number of swine flu fatalities and H1N1 positive cases.

While most school and college representatives have welcomed the measure,pre-school owners said that they were expecting concise and specific guidelines to ensure that younger age group does not get infected by the virus.

“Though the present guidelines can be customised for balwadis,I did expect more specific instructions,” said Sarita Sidhaye of Wisdom Nursery in Dhayari. Sheetal Hajare of Learning Rewards Nursery and Day Care Centre on NIBM Road too said that she was expecting guidelines about school cleanliness and fumigation,in the meeting.

However,Sanjay Belapurkar of Belapurkar Classes that has around 300 school and junior college students attending the class said that the five-point agenda will be implemented in his coaching class.

5-points to fight H1N1 virus

According to the circular issued by the civic body to schools:

* Adopt hygienic habits

* Avoid crowds

* Visit a doctor even if slightest swine flu symptoms show up

* Remain at home after returning from abroad

* Spread awareness about swine flu

Questions unanswered

One of the most-asked question by teachers,how would the swine flu break be compensated for students and teachers,remained unanswered as the PMC chief said that detailed guidelines on the same would be issued before Diwali and Christmas vacations.