Kolkata: Towards the tail-end of the southwest monsoon, this is dengue season.
As states with historically high numbers of dengue cases brace for the battle with mosquitoes, West Bengal Health minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee suggested a novel but practical way to tackle the menace.
Mukherjee urged schools across the state to temporarily modify student uniforms in such a way that children wear clothes which keep their arms and legs covered.
The minister’s appeal came during a high-level review meeting as the state stepped up efforts to contain dengue cases during the peak transmission period.
The minister asked schools to allow students to wear full-sleeved shirts and full-length trousers for next three months — September, October, and November.
Girls who normally wear skirts should be allowed to switch to salwar suits, Mukherjee proposed.
“We can completely prevent dengue afterward. Awareness is required,” Mukherjee said as he appealed to teachers, headmasters and headmistresses to effect temporary changes to school uniforms.
“I am sending messages to schools repeatedly, I am folding my hands and appealing to teachers, headmasters, and headmistresses: for these three months, please allow full-sleeved clothing regardless of what your uniform is,” Mukherjee said.
“Please do not send girls to school wearing skirts. Allow them to wear salwar suits that cover their legs,” the Health minister added.
Rejecting a suggestion to use knee-high socks, Mukherjee saying they may not provide adequate protection against mosquito bites.
“And socks… someone suggested, ‘Let’s give them knee-high socks.’ That won’t work,” he said.
“Knee-high socks stick to the skin and are very thin, so mosquitoes can still bite through them,” je explained.
The state government is likely to issue a circular outlining the temporary attire guidelines for government-run schools. Private educational institutions will also be requested to adopt similar precautionary measures against dengue, although it will the school management’s call to take a decision on uniforms.
