KINGSTON, Jamaica — According to the Ministry of Education, all students are required to be in attendance on National Clean-up Day, set for tomorrow, to engage in clean-up activities with parents and staff.

The Ministry of Education, through a bulletin, today called on schools to intensify their efforts to ensure that all parents, students and staff are educated on the prevention diagnosis and treatment of the Zika Virus and that the school compound and immediate surroundings are free from mosquito-breeding sites.

School administrators were also urged to take the necessary precautions to mitigate the risks associated with the Zika virus, particularly since the first case of the Zika virus has recently been identified in Jamaica.

The bulletin also directed school administrators to liaise with their Regional Office on today, regarding collection of the requisite materials to facilitate the clean-up process.

In addition to the vector control activities, school administrators were also directed to ensure that the following activities are undertaken on National Clean-Up Day:

1. Health and Family Life Education lessons for all students on the prevention,

diagnosis and treatment of Zika Virus Infection;

2. Sensitization sessions with parents and community members by nurses,

guidance counsellors or Ministry of Health representatives;

3. Dissemination of Zika flyers and posters received from the Ministry of

Health and/or the Ministry of Education.

The ministry said education officers will be monitoring and providing support to schools tomorrow.