Objectives of the Practice

• To identify anaemic students in the college campus
• To make students aware of symptoms of anaemia and its health implications
• To give necessary prophylactic treatment and nutrition supplementation to the anaemic students to improve their health status
• To eradicate anaemia among college students

The Context

Anaemia is a very common health problem prevalent among adolescent girls. Deficiency of Iron, folic acid and other B-complex vitamins and other micronutrients is the major causative factor for this problem. Irrespective of socio-economic background and the nutritive quality of the foods consumed, many students of the college were found to be severely anaemic. Anaemia affects the overall health status of the individual and reduces the quality of performance, hence the need for intervention was identified through a project study undertaken by IQAC of the college in collaboration with Life sciences departments. High prevalence of moderately high anaemia prompted the college to undertake this project of Anaemia Eradication Program (AEP)

The Practice

Every year at the beginning of the academic session health awareness campaigns and a mega health camp are conducted by the inter-departmental coordination of biosciences, applied sciences and local health departments. The identified anaemia students are then supported through the health insurance program (STARS) of the college and provided with prophylactic treatment with iron, folic acid and vitamin-A supplementation and low cost, high nutritious dietary supplementation.

Obstacles faced if any and strategies adapted to over come

The students are often reluctant to continue the prophylaxis program for the desirable duration as it is not appealing in certain aspects. Dietary supplementation needs constant supervision and planning to make the product appealing, tasty and economical.

Impact of the practice

Anaemia is an often an unseen, unnoticed health problem with serious health implications. The prophylactic and nutritional intervention and correction of the micronutrient deficiency has produced a remarkable reduction in the number of anaemic students and reduction of the severity of anaemia. The correction of anaemia is like a catalytic reaction producing more number of positive benefits. The students become more active, resistant to diseases will increase, leading to falling ill less often and thus increasing the percentage of attendance to classes, higher performance levels, physical stamina and a more positive outlook to life on the whole.