Schools step up preventive measures, advise caution

Bengaluru: As dengue infections spread in the city, schools have started taking precautions on campus. In addition to fumigation and ensuring there is no stagnation of water, many schools are regularly conducting awareness programmes.
“We’ve had a few cases of dengue among our students and staff. The health and safety of our school community are our utmost priority, and we’re closely monitoring the situation,” said Alistair RA Freese, principal of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School.

“Our campus undergoes regular fumigation to eliminate mosquito-breeding sites.We conduct weekly cleanliness drives to ensure there is no stagnant water that can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Our school infirmary is well-equipped to handle cases promptly, and we have protocols in place for swift medical attention and support,” he said.
Several schools are informing parents to be diligent. “We’ve been telling parents not to send their ill children until they are fully recovered. It is a common practice among parents to send children after 2-3 days in fear of missing school or of them missing office. This puts the other children’s health also at risk. Just like in the SOP for Covid, we’ll have to isolate the child, send them home for complete recovery, while keeping the campus clean,” said D Shashi Kumar, secretary, Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka.
Delhi Public Schools have highlighted this issue in the note they have sent to all parents from the school doctors. They are also asking students to produce medical fitness certificates upon recovery. “If your child has fever, then keep the child at home until complete recovery. Please don’t send the ill child after administering Paracetamol at home, as his or her temperature could go up after four hours of taking medicine and he or she won’t be able to sit in the classroom. When your child has recovered from fever, please inform the class teacher. Kindly send medical fitness certificate while reporting back to school post recovery from fever,” the note reads.
The schools have also advised students to wear clothes covering both their hands and legs, and to apply mosquito repellents while going out to play.
Whitefield Global School said it conducts constant awareness sessions during the mental and physical well-being class, assembly and even in classes on preventive measures for fighting dengue. “The students are already in pullovers and pants, thanks to the cold weather. This should help the cause of preventing dengue too,” said Sharada Chandrashekhar, director (academic), WGS.