Schoolteachers attend H1N1 briefing

CEBU, Philippines – As part of the preparedness plans of the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council, over 4,000 elementary and high school teachers all over the city were called in yesterday for a briefing on the Influenza A(H1N1) virus.

CCDCC chairman Gerardo Carrillo said that they were happy many participants attended the event in the Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino in Lahug considering that they just gave the notice for the briefing the other day.

Carrillo said that they called in the teachers since there is no time to go to the schools one-by-one due since classes are set to start next week.

But he said that after this, they will still be going to the different schools to make inspections and follow-up information campaigns.

Dr. Expedito Medalla, head of the Health Emergency Management Services of the Department of Health-7 gave the background of the H1N1 virus to the teachers and the precautionary measures that should be done especially in schools.

Medalla said that the teachers play an important role especially in letting the students know about the virus, like how to identify the symptoms and how to prevent causes of flu and other illnesses.

Medalla said that the teachers should remind their students of the importance of hand washing to wash off bacteria that cause different diseases.

During the briefing, the teachers were taught by DOH, City Health and Vice Mayor Michael Rama on the proper way of hand washing.

According to Medalla, it was also done in order to prevent panic considering that there are already two confirmed cases of H1N1 in Manila.

But Medalla said that even though the cases are already contained, the briefing for the teachers was done so that the teachers and the students would know what to do if there are symptoms among the people in their school.

Medalla also said that through the teachers, students who have questions regarding the H1N1 virus will be given answers.

One of the teachers, Belina Paragsa of the Don Vicente Rama Elementary School in Basak-Pardo, said that they were thankful for the briefing because it gave them a more detailed idea on the situation.

But she said that they were not worried of the virus because they are sure that most their students did not go out of the country during summer.

Cebu City School’s Division Superintendent Dr. Lorna Rances said that they are ready for the opening of the classes on Monday and they are confident that the schools are prepared enough for classes despite H1N1 scare.

Rances said that one suggestion received was to provide masks to those who will be showing symptoms of flu --like cough and colds-- and also to ask students to inform them if they have visitors from other countries.    

She also said the cooperation of the students, parents and teachers is very important. – AJ de la Torre/BRP (THE FREEMAN)