Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in Patna district are getting ready to appoint medical personnel for students, in accordance with a directive from the governing body of the central school.

The board of governors of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan had directed all its schools to appoint a doctor and a nurse on contractual basis within the 2012-13 academic session. The directive, which is aimed at maintaining students’ hygiene, was issued in November, 2011.

The schools are supposed to take up the services of the doctors and nurses on a daily basis. According to the directive, the doctors will be present for two hours on campus at the KV wings, which have two or more sections in each class. The nurses are expected to be present on campus for longer durations. The wings of the central school that have only one section will, however, have the medical personnel on campus in case of emergency only.

There are at least two sections in each class of the KV wings in Patna district — Bailey Road, Kankerbagh, Khagaul and Danapur Cantonment. Though three of the wings have started the process of appointing the doctor and nurse, implementation of the directive is still going on. Sources said the wing has not started work on the directive yet.

Despite several attempts, the principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bailey Road, could not be contacted.

The principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Khagaul, Arjun Prasad, told The Telegraph: “We have conducted the interviews for the doctor and nurse. The medical equipment necessary are being arranged. It is expected to be complete by July-end. The doctor will be present on campus for two hours daily, while the nurse will be present for around seven hours.”

The principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kankerbagh, R.K. Sinha, said: “We have started the process and it is expected to be complete in this academic session.”

Sources at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Danapur Cantonment, also said the process to appoint a doctor and nurse is underway. A source said: “Interviews for a doctor and a nurse have been done. They will be appointed soon. We are making every effort to implement the directive issued by the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.”

The doctor and nurse present on campus of each wing would only administer first-aid. In case of an emergency, parents will be informed and after consultation among the parties, the wards concerned would be treated. The doctor appointed at each school will be paid Rs 1,000 daily, while the nurse will be paid Rs 750.

Patna resident Priyadarshini, whose child studies in KV Khagaul, said: “We were waiting for such an initiative for a long time. We will be relieved to know that our children are under the supervision of medical personnel.”