Roxanne Diaz, Public Health program analyst, said the school outreach program is one of their upcoming activities.
“We plan to deputize the students so they can also teach about Flu-Watch,” whose target population are the school children, she said.
In a meeting on Friday at the Pacific Islands Club, Flu Watch organizers presented their campaign activities which include community outreach, social networking, collaboration with the media and the Kung Flu fight event.
The goals of the program are to promote Flu Watch through an aggressive media campaign and promote flu prevention and preparedness by raising awareness regarding the different “W.A.T.C.H.” messages, Diaz said.
W is for wash your hands; A, avoid sick people and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; T, teach others how to prevent the flu; C, cover your cough or sneeze; and H, have an emergency plan.
Diaz said the Department of Public Health continues to conduct this campaign because “scientists have warned that an outbreak of pandemic flu will occur again.”
In its preparedness program, she said the department needs to diagnose cases as quickly as possible and ensure that the Commonwealth Health Center is a safe place for treatment.
She said the department needs to be prepared for a tremendous surge capacity and must protect the general public from the spread of the disease.
During the meeting at PIC, health officials presented certificates of appreciation to different organizations and individuals who joined the Flu Watch campaign during the Liberation Day parade.
More than 200 received the certificates. These included Trench Tech, Matua Riders Group, Team Rectify, the media, Taro Leaf, Bison Relations, Chiliboy Entertainment, Garapan Elementary School, Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting and personnel of Public Health.
