In an attempt to effectively check the spread of swine flu particulary among children, all schools will be required to have isolation rooms where students showing symptoms of H1N1 could be kept. This was one of the many anti-H1N1 steps recommended by the participants of a meeting held Wednesday to review the plan to deal with swine flu particualry at a time when schools are scheduled to reopen Oct.4. Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, general director of General Administration of Education in Makkah, met with the Jeddah Health Affairs Management at its headquarters here Wednesday. Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Health Affairs in Jeddah, Dr. Nuha Dashash, Assistant Director of Jeddah Health Affairs Management, Dr. Munira Balhmr, head of Primary Health Care Department in Jeddah and Prof.Karim Hugail, Assistant Director of Education Management – girls section and number of doctors and teachers attended the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, Al-Thaqafi said that in case of a surge in swine flu cases, schools would be shut down immediately. “We are planning to carry out inspection tours in each and every school to ensure that all safety precautions have been taken the respective school management,” he said. Apart from that, the Health Affairs Management has also chalked out several programs to create awareness on swine flu among the masses particularly students and teachers. “We are planning to launch several training programs for health care professionals, setting up of health units in schools”, said Badawood. Badawood quoted Al-Thaqafi as saying that there was an urgent need for selection of health experts from the Jeddah Health Affairs Management who could help spread awareness on swine flu as soon as schools open. He said that his department had prepared CDs containing all relevant information and precautionary measures regarding swine flu. Those CDs, he said, would be distributed among all the government and private schools. He also informed participants of the meeting that specialized medical units would be established in schools so as to ensure periodical check-ups for students. “Beside these units, each healthy center will be responsible of number of schools that are locating near to that center.” said Badawood.
