Madhya Pradesh schools sensitise children about swine flu

Bhopal: A group of Madhya Pradesh schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have decided to step up awareness about swine flu among students although the state government is yet to issue any specific guideline to educational institutions. The Sahodaya Group, comprising 53 schools of Bhopal and Vidisha district, has started distributing handouts to students to inform them and their parents of swine flu symptoms and precautionary measures to be taken to prevent or tackle the viral infection. "We have intimated principals of schools that are part of the group to prepare handouts containing information on the disease along with Symptoms and preventive measures. While some schools were already conducting medical check-up of students as a precautionary measure, others are going to follow suit soon," P.K. Pathak, coordinator of the Sahodaya Group, told sources. "We are sensitising children, making them aware of the symptoms of the disease and asking them not to be negligent in visiting the doctor," said Sister Reji, principal of Carmel Convent Senior Secondary School. "Guidelines with regard to swine flu are yet to be issued to educational institutions for want of an advisory from the state's health department. We will take action once we get any advisory," said Ashish Upadhyaya, commissioner of higher education. Bhopal's district education officer Rajeev Singh Tomar said a guideline will soon be issued to schools and he will discuss the matter with the chief medical and health officer.