A health and anaemia screening camp was conducted by the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) team at the Putaninagar Anganwadi Centre in the city.
Assistant Child Development Project Officer Mepadanda Savita Kirtan provided information regarding the anaemia screening programme. She stated that, starting January 2026, anaemia screening for children aged six months to five years under the jurisdiction of Anganwadi centres will be conducted twice a year in coordination with the Health Department and the Women and Child Development Department.
Children aged six to fifty-nine months with low haemoglobin levels will be classified as anaemic. Details regarding the child’s diet and medical history will be collected with the consent of parents, following which screening will be conducted.
Children diagnosed with anaemia will be administered iron syrup as follows: 1 ml daily for children aged 6-12 months, 1.5 ml daily for those aged 1-3 years, and 2 ml daily for children aged 3-5 years. In addition, IFA syrup will be given once every 14 days for a duration of two months. ASHA workers will monitor compliance.
If haemoglobin levels return to normal, treatment will be discontinued, though prophylactic IFA doses will continue once a week. Children who do not respond to treatment within two months will be referred to the district hospital for further examination by a pediatrician.
It was explained that anaemia in children can result from protein deficiency, worm infestation, and poor hygiene. Symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, involuntary twitching of limbs, lack of concentration, and poor appetite can adversely affect a child’s growth and development.
With parental consent, Medical Officer Shaima and Health Worker Mamata conducted anaemia screening for 35 children. The efforts of Anganwadi worker Umavati and assistant Daivani in ensuring timely participation of children in the health check-up were appreciated by the officials.
