Ebola alert, colleges unaware on health check

BHOPAL: A week after Madhya Pradesh government issued an alert for dreaded Ebola virus there is little or no coordination between different agencies on the lookout for cases. So much so that neither the health department nor the police are aware of any case in the city with a recent travel history to affected regions in Africa and the Middle East.
Earlier last week, after an alert on Ebola, an advisory was issued to all colleges to report for students who have returned from any of the affected countries.The motive was to have a health check-up for the students and information them of the risk.
"None of the colleges in the city have responded. The advisory was dispatched to all colleges," said DIG Bhopal D Sreenivasa Varma. Similarly, district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Pankaj Shukla said, "Till date there has been no reported individual with recent travel history to Africa who has undergone a health check."
There are an estimated 500 foreign national studying in various colleges in Bhopal. Most colleges when contacted were not aware of any notice or advisory for health check-up of student with travel history to Ebola affected regions.
Bhopal School of Social Sciences principal Fr Johnny PJ said, "We have about a dozen students from African. But we have not been intimated about the police advisory." He said BSSS would conduct a programme apprising students about Ebola.