After Mid-Day Meals, Now Iron Tablets Take a Toll on Health of Indian School Kids

 According to a spokesperson of the National Rural Health Mission, Haryana, 16 lakh children were administered with the tablets under a state-wide campaign that was re-launched in 21 districts.

"Only 879 children were found suffering with mild side effects such as stomach ache and mild nausea. It is just 0.054 percentof the total students given WIFS blue tablet. A majority of the children did not show the general side effects like severe diarrhoea and vomiting," added the spokesperson.

The affected children were admitted to various government and private hospitals. So far no casualties have been reported.

Iron supplement tablets which help in overcoming anaemia were given to students as part of the re-launch of Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplement (WIFS) programme by Haryana's health department. The programme will cover almost 16 lakh students who are studying in government schools of the state.

Also Read: Three Lakh Teachers to Boycott Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Bihar