A health scare unfolded at a government school in Himachal Pradesh's Nurpur on Tuesday when five students fell ill after consuming iron and folic acid tablets supplied under a national health programme. The incident has prompted immediate action from district health authorities and cast a spotlight on the implementation of the crucial nutritional supplement scheme.
Immediate Symptoms and Swift Response
The affected children, all students of Government Senior Secondary School (Girls) in Nurpur, began experiencing symptoms of vomiting and nausea shortly after taking the tablets. The school administration acted promptly, informing the parents and rushing the students to the nearby Community Health Centre (CHC) in Nurpur for medical attention.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Kangra, Dr. Vijay Sharma, confirmed the incident and stated that all five children are now reported to be in stable condition. They received necessary treatment at the health centre and were later discharged. The swift response from the school and medical staff helped prevent a more serious situation.
Investigation Launched, Supply Seized
Following the alarming episode, the district health machinery swung into action. A team of officials from the Health Department visited the school to conduct a preliminary inquiry. As a precautionary measure, the entire stock of the iron-folic acid tablets available at the school has been seized by the authorities.
The seized stock has been sent to a laboratory for detailed testing and analysis to determine if there was any issue with the specific batch of tablets. This step is crucial to ascertain whether the adverse reactions were due to the quality of the supplements or other individual factors. The school is located within the jurisdiction of the Nurpur block in the Kangra district.
Context of the National Health Programme
The iron and folic acid supplementation programme is a key component of the Government of India's Anaemia Mukt Bharat (Anaemia Free India) strategy. It aims to tackle the high prevalence of anaemia among children, adolescents, and women by providing weekly supplements. The incident in Nurpur, while isolated, raises important questions about monitoring and sensitisation under the programme.
Local officials have emphasised that such reactions are not common. They have also highlighted the importance of administering these tablets with proper guidance, ideally after a meal, to minimise gastric side effects. The investigation will also look into the protocols followed during the distribution and consumption of the tablets at the school.
The health department is likely to issue fresh advisories to all schools and Anganwadi centres in the district to reinforce the correct administration procedures. The well-being of the children remains the top priority as authorities work to ensure the safety and continued success of this vital public health initiative.
