IIM-A guides schools, academia to fight swine flu

Keeping in mind the panic created by swine flu and its adverse impact on academic activities across the country, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), is preparing recommendations to be issued to various schools and colleges in the country. Once ready, the management institute, which has witnessed four cases of swine flu on its campus, will submit the recommendations to the state and central governments for further dissemination to academic institutes.

“We are developing recommendations for various schools and colleges with regards to prevention of the spread of swine flu. We are waiting for some final comments from a panel of health experts comprising central and state government officials, and members of Public Health Foundation and Public Health Association, among others. Once a final draft of these recommendations is prepared, we will submit the same with the state and central governments who will then issue them to schools and colleges,” said Dileep Mavalankar, chairman, Centre for Management of Health Services at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A).

The draft suggests that instead of closing educational institutions in the wake of any student/staff falling ill, people infected with flu-like symptoms should be allowed to stay at home without asking for medical certificate of illness. Besides, the draft suggests that educational institutions should monitor the health status of their students/staff and report all flu-like illness to local health officers for further examination and monitoring.

The draft is also based on various observations, which indicate that there has been no increase in the new H1N1 virus transmission since Ganesh festival The institute, through the draft, suggests that there is no reason for cancellation of student activities or exchange programmes by organisations, fearing the spread of the virus.

Mavalankar added that the institute is working towards forming certain guidelines for educational institutions to fight the pandemic. “The recommendations are being prepared so that the academic processes are not hindered. We do not want any academic activities including classes and student exchange programmes be stopped in the country in the wake of the pandemic. Anyway, currently the nature of swine flu in the country is mild,” he added.

IIMA had recently held a workshop on swine flu, in collaboration with state and central health authorities, Indian Public Health Association, Public Health Foundation of India, and non-resident Indian experts from abroad.