The State government has decided to provide iron and folic acid tablets to schools children to prevent them from developing anaemia and thalassemia, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader announced on Friday.
He was speaking on the occasion of World Blood Donor’s day jointly organised by National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) and Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society (KSAPS) here.
He said that anaemia and thalassemia have to be tackled effectively and immediately as these conditions demand largescale blood transfusion regularly. He stated that a blood donor automatically becomes a social activist who inspires and leads society.
Malleswaram MLA Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said: “Blood donation brings strata of society together, though we are divided in the name of caste, creed and religion. The present government should set a goal to solve the issue of blood shortage in Karnataka.” He also stated that religious harmony and unity can be achieved through blood donation. He congratulated Khader for banning gutka in the State.
Khader, Dr Narayan and Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao donated blood on the occasion. A total of 52 units of blood were collected at the blood donation camp that was organised in association with Indian Red Cross Society.
Donors felicitated
Radiologist Dr K Nagaraj Rao (65) of Bellary, one of the many blood donors who were felicitated during the event, said: “When I was small, my mother had a miscarriage and was in grave need of blood. My father could not arrange for blood even after inquiring in many hospitals and blood banks. Finally, he had to sell my mother’s ear rings to arrange blood. This incident motivated me to donate blood and, since 1972 I have donated blood 137 times and I’m still healthy.“
Another blood donor, Mangayar Tilagam, a middle-aged homemaker who too was honoured stated that: “Today’s youth have superstitions that blood donation can be fatal for donors. This is just a myth. Not only have I donated blood 43 times, I have motivated my son, daughter and their friends to donate blood. A single unit of blood can save four lives and, if every adult in the country donates blood once in a life time, there will be no lack of blood in the country.”
Supply of tablets to cost Rs 8 crore
Dr Dhanya Kumar, Director, Health and Family Welfare department said the distribution of the iron and folic acid tablets is being done under the Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation. “The tablets will be given to children studying in Class 6 to 10. This scheme will be implemented in all government school, aided schools and we will also be reaching out to children who have dropped out of school. The tablets will also be given to teachers.” The total cost of the programme is about Rs 8 crore.