“School nurses conduct disease surveillance to help teachers become aware of health issues that affect the students. The results of this surveillance are submitted to the regional office of the Department of Education XI,” he said during the One Davao Virtual Presser of the Philippine Information Agency.

Mendoza noted that many schoolchildren are currently experiencing influenza-like symptoms.

He said that to address the situation, the schools are implementing measures to boost the immune systems of the

“Public schools in Davao del Sur have a wash-in school program, which checks the drinkability and potability of the school’s water source twice a year,” he said.

Mendoza noted that data from health personnel shows flu-like symptoms are widespread in Davao del Sur, especially during the rainy season. There are also isolated cases of dengue fever affecting schoolchildren.

He emphasized that educating children about not keeping breeding grounds for mosquitoes is important in preventing illness. Students can help by cleaning up mosquito breeding grounds at the school and in their homes.

Mendoza also mentioned that schools in Davao del Sur have an item for nurses, while there are also teachers who have trained as nurses but shifted to education to become public school teachers.

“These teachers are assigned as clinic teachers to handle sick students,” he said.  (JSGD/PIA Davao/ Thumbnail photo from Inday Sara Duterte Facebook Page)