52,162 students benefit from WIFS programme

Two teachers to be nodal officers at school level for the scheme

About 52,162 children in the district — 6th to 10th standard — will benefit from the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplement (WIFS) programme that has been launched across the nation.

The programme is an effort to combat anaemia, which is prevalent among children, especially adolescents. Departments of Public Instructions, Health and Women and Child Welfare have taken up the responsibility of implementing the programme.

All students will be provided iron tablets every Monday under the surveillance of their class teacher. It is mandatory for the teacher to consume the tablets before distributing it to the students.

Two teachers will be identified as nodal officers in each school, who will monitor the programme. The details of distribution of tablets will be marked in the attendance register and a monthly report will be submitted to the nodal officer, which in turn will be submitted to the block education officer.

Girls completing 10th standard will be provided tablets at anganwadi centres on Mondays, after ensuring that they have had their lunch.

The anganwadi supervisor would collect the details of girl students coming out of schools under their limits, maintain their attendance and intake of tablets and submit a report to the department, before 7th of every month.

Deworming

Schools and anganwadi centres would also distribute Alpendazol tablets for deworming twice a year in the month of February and August.

DDPI N Chandregowda, there will be no side-effects due to iron tablets, and there is no need for any anxiety among parents.