Students of Classes 6 to 12 across the State will be supplied with iron tablets by the Department of Health in order to combat anaemia. The project called Weekly Iron and Folic Acid supplementation (WIFSP) will be executed by the end of December. The project will be implemented in association with the Department of School Education and Integrated Child Development Services.
“Many students face anaemic problems these days and the project aims to address that. All students will be supplied with iron tablets every Thursday and drop out girls between the ages of 10 and 19 will be supplied through the Integrated Child Development Services,” said Somasundaram, deputy director of health.
“The main advantage of the programme is that teachers will monitor and ensure that students consume the tablet on time. Under other schemes we are not sure whether it reaches the right people,” says Lathika, additional chief educational officer (SSA). Two teachers from each school will be trained for the purpose. They will have the duty to maintain the records.