Schools in the district have been instructed to prevent water stagnation, remove mosquito-breeding sources, maintain clean campuses and conduct weekly fever and mosquito-control awareness programmes as part of measures to prevent dengue, malaria and other infectious diseases.

The instructions were issued at a review meeting of headmasters of schools under the School Education Department at the Collectorate on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Collector S. Kandasamy.

The headmasters were asked to ensure that overhead and underground water tanks were kept properly covered and that unwanted water-holding containers were removed from school campuses and their surroundings. Schools were also instructed to remove bushes and unwanted vegetation and maintain hygienic surroundings.

Each school was asked to designate a teacher to monitor these preventive measures and conduct regular awareness activities among students on personal hygiene, handwashing, safe drinking water and cleanliness.

District Health Officer P. Aruna explained the modes of transmission and preventive measures for dengue, malaria, scrub typhus, leptospirosis and other infectious diseases.

Headmasters were instructed to ensure that students developing symptoms such as fever, headache, body pain, vomiting or diarrhoea were taken to the nearest government health facility for medical examination and treatment. Students with symptoms were also advised not to attend school.

The meeting also stressed the importance of HPV vaccination for girls aged 14 to 15 to prevent cervical cancer. Headmasters were asked to ensure that all girls in this age group received the vaccine. The School Education and Health Departments should work in coordination and take all necessary preventive measures to protect the health of students, the District Collector said.

District Chief Educational Officer E. Manvizhi, district elementary education officers and officials from various departments were present.