UNICEF to launch awareness campaign on A/H1N1 flu in Nepali schools

With a view to inform the schoolchildren of the menace of pandemic influenza A/H1N1, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Nepal has embarked on an awareness campaign in different schools under the Avian Influenza Project (AIP).

The move follows recent A/H1N1 flu-scare throughout the nation.

After the initial phase of campaign in the capital Kathmandu Valley schools, UNICEF is launching the awareness campaign in schools of the five districts in Jhapa, Illam, Sunsari, Morang and Chitwan.

Binoy Dil Lama, the project officer, was quoted by THT Online as saying on Monday that the first round of briefing and orientation on the flu was concluded recently in 65 schools in the valley.

A meeting will be held next week with the Private and Boarding Schools' Organization of Nepal and the Department of Education.

Lama of UNICEF has urged the schools not to close them down on seasonal flu but suggested the government to take sample test and make it conformed before closing the schools.

He said that they had introduced a package program for addressing the present situation where they had given two hours of training to teachers and students with the objective of bringing awareness.

Source:Xinhua