In response to the worsening dengue situation and the spread of new coronavirus variants across the country, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has issued directives to all educational institutions to reinforce precautionary measures.
In a circular issued on Sunday, June 15, educational institutions were instructed to conduct awareness campaigns for dengue prevention and strictly adhere to five health guidelines to prevent coronavirus.
The DSHE stated that, in line with joint directives from the Ministry of Education and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), schools, colleges, and other educational institutions nationwide must take urgent steps to combat dengue and coronavirus.
Heads of institutions have been specifically tasked with the implementation and oversight of these directives.
The circular emphasizes that special awareness campaigns involving teachers and students must be conducted nationwide to curb the spread of dengue.
Institutions are encouraged to undertake various awareness programs as part of this campaign, including discussion meetings, rallies, wall magazines, poster creation, and leaflet distribution.
This initiative will be implemented based on decisions made during a meeting titled "Dengue Awareness: Future Actions."
Furthermore, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, educational institutions are strictly required to follow the five rules outlined by the DGHS:
- Practice regular handwashing: Develop the habit of washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid crowded places and wear masks: Refrain from going to public places and wear a mask when going outside.
- Maintain physical distancing: Keep a distance from infected individuals and stay at least three feet away from others.
- Clean hands before touching face: Ensure hands are clean before touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Practice respiratory hygiene: Use a tissue, handkerchief, or the crook of the elbow to cover the mouth when sneezing or coughing.
It's worth noting that the first case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) was detected in Bangladesh in early 2020. Since then, the country has experienced several waves of infection, leading to public health crises.
The government issued guidelines for health protocols, including mandatory mask-wearing, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding public gatherings.
However, as the infection rate decreased over time, many of these restrictions were largely relaxed.
Recently, the COVID-19 infection rate in the country has shown a slight upward trend.
Following this, the government has once again urged adherence to health guidelines to ensure public safety.
