LAHORE, Feb 12: School Education Secretary Muhammad Aslam Komboh has said education and health departments will work jointly to create awareness among the people about dengue virus.

The secretary was addressing a seminar on awareness campaign about the dengue virus which was held with the collaboration of the gender groups of education and health departments here on Sunday.

According to a press release issued on Sunday, he said the education department would distribute pamphlets in this regard through students and teachers.

He said the material regarding dengue virus and other apedamic diseases had been included in new textbooks.

Mr Komboh said students and teachers of private schools would also be included in this programme.

He said it was encouraging that implementation of departmental directives regarding cleanliness and spray in public schools was satisfactory. However, he said the performance of private schools in this matter was not up to the mark.

The secretary said the compulsory question on dengue virus would be included in the annual examination of schools and textbooks for the new educational year would have special lessons on the subject.

He said that special walks for dengue virus awareness would be arranged in all cities and towns of the province which would be participated in by a large number of teachers, students and members of the civil society.

Gender group coordinator of school education Rehana Anwar also spoke and highlighted the role of women in the eradication of dengue virus.

He said the people would be apprised of the importance of primary healthcare through such functions.