Anaemia affects hundreds of school children

Paderu (Visakhapatnam Dist): Hundreds of children in Visakhapatnam agency area are falling victim to anaemia, without knowing what has hit them. About 80 per cent lack adequate hemoglobin which is turning fatal and bound to affect future generations. In fact, the situation in the district is alarming.

• In a survey jointly conducted by the ITDA and Health department, 74,721 school kids were found to be suffering from anaemia
• More than 80 per cent lack adequate hemoglobin in their blood due to mal-nourished food and poor medicare
• Krishna Rao, who works for voluntary organisation says “till February this year 414 succumbed, while the toll in the last five years was 1,669 due to anaemia”

Although, the officials claim that they are taking preventive steps but are found to be inadequate. The disease has not spared even pregnant or lactating women belonging to lower or middle-classes, who are taking ill due to drastic fall in hemoglobin levels. Food provided by the Anganwadi centres is has not been reaching sick students and the mid-day meal scheme is yet to be effectively implemented, resulting children falling sick.

A recent survey jointly conducted by the ITDA and Health department, 74,721 children were found to be suffering from anaemia. Out of them, 7,654 students lacked adequate hemoglobin and were included in the red category. As many as 34,706 were listed in the yellow (mid-level), while 29,401 were in ordinary category (green).

Official figures claim that every year 33.38 children in 0-12 month age group are dying. The department has identified 62 children in the district who are down with anaemia, Krishna Rao, a works for voluntary organisation told The Hans India. “Till February this year 414 succumbed, while the toll in the last five years was 1,669. In the last one month ten students died due to lack of hemoglobin and other ailments, caused by inadequate medicare”.

Recently, sisters Bhavani and Simhachalam of Patapaderu and were diagnosed as anemic. A Class X student of a private school here Saranya is down for the last three years. She undergoes blood transfusion every six months. Another student, Sankar Rao (11) of Majjivalasa in Hukumpeta mandal succumbed after suddenly vomiting blood.

Others like Manikumari (Class VIII, Gurukul School), Bhavani (Class I in Gomangi Mani), Praveen Kumar(Sukura Ashram School), Radha (Class VII, Uppa Ashram School), Poturaju (Class IV, Ashram SchooI) died of related ailments, according to Prasada Rao, who represents an NGO.

While Donkada Ramulamma, a Class VIII student of TW Residential School at Pedamakavaram in Koyyur mandal succumbed last year, Vanagala Lakshmi of the same school has been given blood twice, while her parents are unable to give her nutritious food due to poverty.

In G Madugula mandal the blood test conducted for students was found to be routine, as 5,476 of the 6,027 from 191 schools were covered. Fifty per cent of students in Pedabayilu mandal were found anemic due to mal-nourished food. In Pedabayilu area of the 99 schools with 3,200 students only 34 institutions were given hemoglobin test. Only 919 were found to be lacking adequate blood.

In Anakapalli during blood test conducted by the Health department and some NGO for 25 students Deputy DMHO Dr Seshubabu participated. None was found with adequate hemoglobin (11.6-16 gm in girls and 12-18 gm in boys).

By:M Sriram Reddy/ Koti