Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Children's health scheme on the cards

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 11. The district panchayat is launching a scheme this month-end to improve the health of the children at the Anganwadis in the grama panchayats.

The scheme, estimated to cost Rs.25 lakhs, envisages supply of 500 ml milk and two eggs to the children twice a week. In addition, the health visitors in the villages will regularly monitor their health and provide medical care with the assistance of the Health Department.

According to the district panchayat vice-president, Anavoor Nagappan, the scheme to supply milk and eggs was aimed at improving the health of the children who did not get sufficient care at home. "We decided to launch the scheme on the basis of a study report published by the Government that malnourished children do not fare well in their studies and are often reluctant to go to school. Majority of the children who go to Anganwadis suffer from malnutrition and this scheme is expected to improve their health," he said.

There are 78 grama panchayats in the district and each panchayat has at least four Anganwadis. Each Anganwadi has about 50 children. An awareness drive to maintain health and hygiene among the children has also been planned as part of the scheme. This would be implemented with the assistance of the Health Department, Mr. Nagappan said.

The health visitors in the panchayats would visit the Anganwadis once in a week and see whether the children are suffering from any disease which needs special care. The health visitors would send reports to the District Medical Officer, if needed, who in turn would depute doctors to give special care to the children, he said.

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