Haryana govt to inform parents about benefits of iron tablets

With 1,300 children falling ill after consumption of iron pills in state-run schools, Haryana government today decided to launch an awareness campaign on the benefits of Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS).
To allay fears amongst parents, the Haryana government has planned an awareness campaign from July 29 to inform them about the benefits of WIFS and its effort to uproot anaemia from the state.
"Education Department had started a session for teachers under the programme. Now the same is being organised for parents from coming Monday so as to ensure the success of supplementation programme," an official release quoting Principal Secretary School Education, Surina Rajan, said.

There was no need to panic as the tablets are being given to children in the presence of teachers and the department is looking more deeply into more precautions that could be taken which will further reduce the side effects, Rajan said.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary Health Navraj Sandhu said the department is making all out efforts for successful implementation of the programme.
A helpline number has been started to provide immediate assistance in case of any minor side effects following the consumption of iron tablets being given to children in government schools in the state, she said.

About 70 per cent children of the country are suffering from anaemia, whereas 74 per cent children are affected by this disease in Haryana, the state official said.

Out of 16 lakh children, who were given Iron Folic Acid Supplementation to combat anaemia, only 1,300 faced side effects which is only 0.01 per cent of total children which is less than the national rate of 0.5 per cent, Sandhu said.
As many as 1,300 children were taken ill after consuming iron tablets in government schools in several districts of Haryana during the WIFS campaign.