Chandigarh November 1, 2021
DGHS, GoI releases Pictorial Booklet on COVID-19 Prevention for Schools
Prof. (Dr.) Sunil Kumar, Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, released a pictorial booklet ‘COVID-19 Prevention Guidebook for Schools’ to restrict the spread of COVID-19. The pictorial booklet is written and designed by Dr. Suman Mor from Panjab University, Chandigarh and Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh.
During the release event, Prof. (Dr.) Sunil Kumar, Director General of Health Services, highlighted that school plays a vital role in nation-building. During the initial days of COVID-19, very little was known about this disease and coupled with concern around the security of children, schools remained closed in the country. He added that schools are reopening due to a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases, availability of vaccines, and realizing that continued school closure could have a significant adverse impact on children’s education. He stressed that it is crucial to ensure the safety of children’s and all others associated with providing this necessary service of quality education. Prof. Kumar mentioned pictorial booklet ‘COVID-19 Prevention Guidebook for Schools’ by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and Panjab University, Chandigarh, will be a valuable tool for the effective implementation of the COVID-19 mitigation strategies by active engagement of school’s authorities, parents, teachers and students.
The event was also graced by Dr. Kaushalya, Director, Central Health Education Bureau, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. She mentioned that underprivileged students were deprived of online education because it heavily relied on family support and resources available at home and school. Hence, the reopening of physical classes will ensure equitable opportunities for all students.
Dr. Suman Mor, Chairperson and Associate Professor, Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, mentioned that parents are worried about the safety of children. Hence, we have developed this guidebook to ensure their safety, including and all others engaged in education.
Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Additional Professor, Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, highlighted that this booklet provides essential information about COVID-19, its mode of transmission, symptoms including the step by step measures which could be taken by the students, parents, teachers and school authorities to ensure the safety of all.
The authors mentioned that an expert panel including Dr. Kanwar Sen, Dr Sushma Dureja, Dr. AK Yadav, Dr. Giridhar Babu, Dr. Anuj Sharma, Dr mala Chhabra, Dr. Rathi Balachandran, Dr. GS Chhatwal and Dr. Amarjeet Singh, provided valuable feedback to enhance the impact of the pictorial booklet. Further, Prof. Raj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, PU and Prof. Jagat Ram, Ex-Director, PGIMER, appreciated the author’s continuous initiatives to create awareness to contact the COVID-19 pandemic.
The documents can be downloaded freely from https://www.care4cleanair.com/awarnessmaterial
For further queries- Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal-: 8872016262
