Schools take measures to keep swine flu at bay

Other schools too have directed parents to take care of general hygiene of children.

“We have asked parents to keep their children at home if they do not feel well. When children suffer from minor cold and cough,parents send them to schools after giving them medicines as they fear they might lose on studies,” said Sujata Mallic,Principal,St Mary’s School.

Nandini Charles,Principal,Vikhe Patil Memorial School,said the school have nurses to monitor the health of children.

“If any child is unwell,we ask his parents to take him home. As of now,we are not making students wear masks,” said Charles.

While schools have stepped up measures against swine flu,parents too are taking instructions from schools seriously.

“My son studies in St Vincent’s School. He told me his class teachers have advised children to stay at home if they suffer from cold,cough or fever,” said a parent.

Another parent,whose daughter studies in Bishop’s School,said,“We are doing everything that the school instructs us to do. My daughter’s class teachers had asked her to carry sanitiser and mask to school. I provided her with the same.”

PMC Education Officer Shivaji Daundkar said,“We have not issued guidelines to schools yet. I will discuss the issue with health officer and by Thursday will issue guidelines to schools. We will also ask teachers to talk to parents about maintaining hygiene at home and take their wards to hospital when they complain of illness.”

PCMC Medical Officer of Health Dr Anil Roy said there have been 40 cases of swine flu in Pimpri-Chinchwad since January this year. “No deaths have been reported so far. Presently nobody is undergoing treatment for swine flu. Our surveillance is underway,” he said.