JOIN USAiming to improve the health of the younger generation especially those in the rural areas, the Union government on Wednesday kicked off its programme to provide iron and folic acid tablets to adolescents across the State.
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad launched the scheme at a function held at Koramangala indoor stadium here on Wednesday.
“It was noticed that many children in Karnataka are anaemic. It is a problem that leads to many complications in future. The objective of the scheme is to stem these issues in the beginning itself,” said Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader.
A total of 34.54 lakh students studying in more than 25,000 government schools and around 8,000 government-aided schools will benefit from the programme. Also, 14.90 lakh adolescent girls who are out of school will be provided the tablets, the minister said.
The tablets will be distributed through schools and anganwadi centres. All students studying in the age group of 10 to 19 years and those studying in Class VI to Class X will be supplied the tablets, said Anuradha Gupta, the Additional Secretary and Mission Director for NRHM.
Union Minister Azad said the students will receive the tablets in their schools every Monday.
He said universal child health screening will also be launched in Karnataka. Under the scheme, schoolchildren will be screened for birth defects and deficiences that can lead to disabilities.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Rathnakar were present.