H1N1 scare: Team to check schools' hygiene

MALAPPURAM: With the spread of dengue fever and H1N1, teams being appointed by district medical office will conduct inspections in all schools across the district.
The district medical administration will take actions against the schools that fail to maintain hygiene and will also be conducted in school hostels.
It would be held by a team headed by medical officers of respective areas.
The condition of class rooms, offices, toilets, purity of drinking water being supplied in schools, the hygienic condition of the kitchens of schools would be inspected by the team.
If the team find any faults with the school, a special notice would be issued to take corrective measures within weeks.
A second round of inspection will also be conducted in August.
District medical officer Dr Ummar Farooq said that the schools have a major role in developing a hygiene culture among students.
The schools have been directed to explain importance of personal hygiene to students.
The health volunteers will visit schools in Malappuram to give special awareness classes.
The inspections would also be conducted in labour camps and restaurants across the district.
The health authorities in Malappuram have already sounded an alert against H1N1 in the backdrop of the reports of two cases of death due to the disease reported in Moothedam and Areekode.
As the fever spreads mainly through the children, the health volunteers are focusing on the preventive measures in schools.
Teachers have been directed to sanction leave for the students who show symptoms of fever. Asha volunteers also will actively participate in local level immunization programmes.