Students have a key role in epidemic prevention, says Kerala Health Minister
Students have a crucial role to play in preventing epidemics by spreading awareness and helping to keep public premises clean, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has
Students have a crucial role to play in preventing epidemics by spreading awareness and helping to keep public premises clean, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has said. Inaugurating a school-level awareness programme for epidemic prevention, launched jointly by the Health and Education departments, he said that cleaning and sanitation activities had to be intensified to reduce vector breeding.
Schools should pay special attention to hygiene and disease prevention, he said. The Minister said that cleaning and sanitation work was not the responsibility of local self-government institutions alone and that these programmes could be successful only with people’s participation. Everyone, including government departments, educational institutions, voluntary organisations and the general public should take a pro-active role in maintaining cleanliness.
Children with fever and other illnesses should take precautions such as wearing masks. Across the State, a “Dry Day” was being observed three days a week and vector breeding sites were being cleared with inter departmental coordination. Collective effort The Health department was maintaining vigil against waterborne diseases like shigellosis. Muraleedharan said that the collective effort of health workers was the bedrock of all achievements made by the State in the health sector.
Education Minister N. Samsudheen administered a pledge of cleanliness and hygiene to students. Senior officials of the Health and Education departments were present at the function.
The BriefWire