The health department has decided to use teachers in government schools to train students on ways to prevent and check outbreak of diseases like kala azar and encephalitis.

The programme will be initially launched in 10 districts — Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Araria, East Champaran, Madhepura, Saharsa and Purnea.

Regional deputy director (health) Dr Syed Mohammad Mustafa told The Telegraph that he has asked the chief medical officers (CMOs) and district education officers to consider ways to train the teachers on symptoms and methods to prevent encephalitis and kala azar.

Teachers serving in the 10 districts would first receive training on methods to control the menace of the two diseases. They would then pass on the knowledge to students in their respective schools — from the primary to the higher secondary level.

The teachers would also be entrusted with the task of monitoring the spraying of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in areas where outbreaks of the two diseases are reported. CMOs and expert doctors from government hospitals would train the teachers in the 10 districts.

In Muzaffarpur, doctors from Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) would impart training on the teachers.

Muzaffarpur CMO Dr Gyan Bhushan said: “We will convene a meeting with the district education officer for implementing the government directives soon.”

Last year, encephalitis had claimed over 100 lives in the state.