As dengue scare spreads, the Delhi Government has issued advisory to all schools directing them to ensure that children come dressed in full-sleeved shirts, trousers and salwar kameez for the next one month as a preventive measure to avoid mosquito bites.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia issued the “mandatory” directions on Tuesday while the schools have also geared up taking preventive measures to keep the school premises clean avoiding mosquito breeding.
The move comes in the wake of dengue assuming alarming proportions in the city, with at least 1,872 cases of the vector-borne disease being reported this year till this month, and 14 deaths as reported by The Pioneer. Sisodia directed the schools to allow children to wear full-sleeved shirts of any colour, irrespective of whether it is the school uniform or not.
“Parents should send their children to schools in full sleeves,” said Sisodia.
The order will apply to all schools across the national Capital — of Delhi Government, municipal corporation-run and, private schools — aided and unaided.
Principal, Usha Ram of laxman Public School, Hauz Khas told The Pioneer that the school administration had already begun taking precautions 15 days back.
“We have been doing fogging on alternate days and the children have been given directions to take preventions. We have advised them to take rest in case they miss the ongoing first term examinations because of health reasons. They would be given relaxation to rewrite the test,” Ram said.
Sisodia took the decision after conducting surprise inspection of various schools in the morning, along with Environment Minister Asim Ahmed Khan.
The Deputy Chief Minister also directed the health authorities to issue challans to schools where mosquito breeding or water stagnation were found. He directed school principals to activate ‘eco clubs’ for ensuring that premises are kept clean and that there are no areas which are prone to mosquito-breeding.
Sisodia also asked the schools to nominate teachers-in- charge of ‘eco clubs’ as nodal officers for dengue prevention in schools and directed that fund available for such club activities should be used for prevention of water stagnation and similar measures.