The Health Ministry on Monday announced launching an ambitious Rs 135-crore programme to provide Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablets every week to 13 crore adolescent girls and boys in Class VI to XII across the country.
“The programme would be officially kicked off from Karnataka on July 17 and all the States will be implementing the programme thereafter,” Anuradha Gupta, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), told reporters.
“Under the programme, six crore girls and boys studying in Government and Government aided school and 7 crore out-of-school adolescent girls will be given the tablets once a week under the direct observation of teachers, and Albendazole twice a year for deworming,” she added.
Gupta said, “Anaemia in adolescent girls enhances risk of preterm delivery and having babies with low birth weight. These children are more likely to be ill and do not reach the age of one year. It is estimated that anaemia is the underlying cause for 20 to 40 per cent of maternal deaths.”
As per the scheme, beneficiaries will be informed of correct dietary practices for increasing iron intake and about the significance of preventing worm infestation and encourage adoption of correct hygiene practices including use of footwear to prevent worm infestation.
Out of school adolescent girls in age of 10 to 19 years will also be provided with tablets free of cost under Rajiv Gandhi Programme Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABlA) through Anganwadi centres.
The progress of the programme will be monitored by State Health Department at State level. The State WIFS Advisory Committee will include officers from Health, Education and Women and Child Developments departments. In the same way, District WIFS advisory committee will monitor the progress of programme at district level, she said.