Malnourished school children to get multi-millet health mix

As many as 660 students of 15 government schools who were detected with malnutrition would soon be given protein-rich multi-millet health mix supplements by Olirum Erode Foundation (OEF) as it plans to launch a project Vaatta Saattam on July 9 in the district.

Speaking to The Hindu, K.M. Abul Hasan, Chairman, Healthcare Panel of the foundation, said that poor health continues to affect the students in government schools and camps were conducted in schools to identify students in three categories, stunting (height-for-age), wasting (weight-for-height) and under weight. “As many as 660 students in these schools were identified for protein-energy malnutrition”, he said and added that the “multi-millet health mix”, made of naturally available ingredients would help the students to be nourished. He said that one kg mix will be given to each student and their age, weight and height will be recorded in the “malnutrition app” for continuous monitoring.

M. Chinnasami, chairman of the foundation, said that the project would be launched on July 9 at the government schools at B.P. Agraharam and Teachers’ Colony and would be extended to other schools later.

Camps

He added that camps will be held at hilly areas to detect students with malnutrition and they would also be given the supplement.

Initially, the cost for the supplements would be ₹ 2 lakh to ₹ 3 lakh and the foundation is arranging funds, he added.