Schools seek medical help to quell fear

JAIPUR: While many cities across the nation are raising alert in schools to curb the threat of swine flu, the recent advisory issued by the ministry of education in state seems to have left many queries unaddressed. Schools feel the need for a medical representative to inspect the school premises to help reduce the panic among students and teachers.
"The authorities should send a medical representative to schools, who can examine the students and if needed quarantine a suspected case.We have many foreign students studying in the school which has aggravated the swine flu panic among the students. In such a situation, a medical examination by the health department would put to rest all the apprehensions among the school staff," Sunita Sabharwal, vice-principal, Neerja Modi School, said.
Due to lack of proper dissemination of information on the disease, many students and parents have various misconceptions regarding swine flu.
"As the authorities have not provided a clear understating about swine flu, students and parents have developed various misconceptions about the disease. The common being anyone infected with the virus would not survive. A proper directive from the state can address such wrong assumptions," Sabharwal added.
"The health department can organize a workshop for students to create awareness about the disease and address their doubts and queries. It would quell the fear, at the same time will also guide them on what measures to take, if they identify flu symptoms in their immediate circle," Jyoti Mehrotra, vice-principal, Seedling Public School.
In the absence of a proper guideline from the state, schools are taking measures at their own level to tackle the flu menace.
"We have told our school members, especially small children to report any instance of cold and fever to the medical staff in the school. If they detect swine flu symptoms, we will immediately send the child home," C K Punnoose, vice-principal, St Xavier's School, said.
"We have been closely following the media to follow the various steps taken by schools and authorities in other states to fight swine flu scare. We have deputed a doctor to conduct regular check-ups of the students as well as other staff in the school," Upendra Kaushik, principal, BVB Vidyashram, said.