Kerala: Steps to combat A(H1N1) in district

[Ronan Kelly]

Steps to combat A(H1N1) in district
Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: The district health administration, as part of strengthening the precautionary measures against A(H1N1), has reached the drug Tamiflu to all primary health centres.

All field-level health workers, ASHA, anganwadi activists are being trained to look out for possible symptoms of H1N1 infection and inform the health authorities to take necessary measures , District Medical Officer N. Sridhar said.A meeting convened by Director of Health Services M.K. Jeevan and Additional DHS (Public Health) P.P. Aravindan here decided to coordinate special measures at the district-level to combat the rising incidence of H1N1 infection.

As part of a special scheme being implemented to educate schools to watch out for H1N1 infection among children, communications have been sent to all schools through the Deputy Director of Education to hold a special assembly on June 24 to disseminate information on H1N1 among children and make them more alert against the infection.

As part of improving disease surveillance, ASHA workers and health workers should keep all fever cases under close observation.

The health administration decided to train doctors in private hospitals and clinics to screen for H1N1. Tamiflu tablets would be given free to the private sector clinics and hospitals if the doctors provided the list of those patients with fever, which could be suspected as H1N1.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/23/stories/2010062363520300.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Steps to combat A(H1N1) in district

H1N1: schools conduct special assemblies

Staff Reporter


Thiruvananthapuram: Special assemblies were held in schools in the district on Thursday to create awareness among schoolchildren on H1N1 infection and to help them to be on the alert against the disease.

Assemblies were held as part of the district health administration's initiative to intensify awareness campaigns on H1N1 and to raise the level of alertness among school authorities, children and their parents so that a possible infection could be averted or taken care of in the early stages itself. The formal inauguration of the special programme on H1N1 in schools was inaugurated at the Manacaud Government Girls High School. As part of the initiative, all health, ASHA and Anganwadi workers are being given training to be on guard for any symptoms of H1N1 in the community. Tamiflu tablets are available at all primary health centres.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/25/stories/2010062562780300.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Steps to combat A(H1N1) in district

Alert against A(H1N1)

Staff Reporter

Kozhikode: The district health administration has urged the people to take precautionary measures against A(H1N1).

Directives have been issued to educational institutions in the district to refrain from conducting school assemblies and relax the terms for granting leave for students suspected to be suffering from H1N1.

“Persons with suspected H1N1 symptoms should immediately consult a doctor and take rest for at least ten days,” DMO in-charge M. Shyamala said in a press release here on Thursday.

“They must also avoid contact with aged persons, children and pregnant women to prevent the possible spread of the virus,” she added.

The DMO in-charge also directed pregnant women to be on alert against the viral infection. “Of the 48 deaths reported in the State due to H1N1, 14 are pregnant women,” she added.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/25/stories/2010062551620300.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Kerala: Steps to combat A(H1N1) in district

Fighting the fever menace

Express News ServiceFirst Published : 24 Jun 2010 11:39:00 PM ISTLast Updated : 23 Jun 2010 11:42:09 PM IST

KOCHI: Fever hasn?t reached a panic-stricken stage in the city schools yet the authorities have begun taking the necessary precautions by spreading awareness among the students. Most schools continue to have 80 to 90 percent attendance. Health and hygiene are the most stressed words in the school environs these days as proper hygiene and precautionary measures can keep the fever menace at bay.


While schools haven?t become panicky about H1N1 unlike last academic year, several of them have begun giving talks and advising children against coming to school if they suffer from severe cold and cough. Says Susan Varghese Cherian, principal, Rajagiri Public School, ?We have been conducting awareness programmes on fever and H1N1 in the school.

We have also sent our teachers for the sensitisation programme which was organised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Parents send their sick children only on examination days that too only those which are unavoidable. Those students write the exam separately,? she adds.

One of the deterring factors is that the parents send their children to school even when they are sick. Most of those who do this are working parents who leave children at the day care centres or send them to school leading to spread of cold, fever and cough which in weaker children causes severe infection. ?This is common more among working parents who have their own problems.

Sometimes they send their kids to school even if mild symptoms of fever are present. At school we take them to the sick room and give them primary medication,? says Aji Viswanathan, vice-principal Vidyodaya school.

Students who show symptoms of fever in class are usually sent back home. ?We call the parents and ask them to take their children home immediately? says Sunaina Narayanan, principal of Jama-ath Residential Public School. Adds Asha Mathews, principal, Mar Thoma Public school, ?The class teachers speak to the students about intake of good food and drinking water, maintaining clean surroundings and personal hygiene.?

Come monsoon, its time for slushy shoes and socks. ``During monsoon, we don?t insist on students wearing shoes and socks,? says the principal of Al Ameen Public School, Vimala Gopalakrishnan.

Following the advice from several doctors, many institutions have started conducting assembly inside the classrooms. ``We conduct the assembly inside the classrooms,? says Vijayalakshmi, principal, Amrita Vidyalayam.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/fighting-the-fever-menace/184017.html