Even kids above 14 years received vitamin doses

Aneesh Phadnis / TNN / May 12, 2007, 05:56 IST

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A startling fact has come to fore in the incident involving hospitalisation of 68 slum children for vitamin overdose.

Even kids above 14 years received vitamin doses

NAGPUR: A startling fact has come to fore in the incident involving hospitalisation of 68 slum children for vitamin overdose. TOI has learnt that even children above the age of 14 had received the vitamin dose when this is usually administered to those up to six years of age.
The children who reside in Indira Nagar slum in Nagpur fell ill after a mass drive organised by Rotary Club in the area.
Bahujan Republican Party-Bharatiya Mahasangh's corporator from Nara ward Milind Mane has blamed the civic health officials for negligence and has alleged that government guidelines on distribution of doses were not followed.
"Boys up to the age of 14 received the vitamin dose and some of them were given 5 ml doses which is higher than the prescribed norm. We took some of them to the Mayo hospital."

Members of state health department who were in Nagpur on Thursday and Friday to probe the incident too confirmed that guidelines were not followed.
The state government has a set guidelines and instructions for smooth conduct of such campaigns. The guidelines mention how the doses are to be distributed and in what quantity. For instance an infant up to the age of one-and-a-half years is to be given one ml of dose.
The government has also prescribed that the dosage be administered by anganwadi volunteers, nurses or other trained staff. Training is also given by the corporation to persons engaged in the drive. "Our guidelines were not

followed," admitted a state health official.
"We have recorded statements and collected documents. We will submit our report to director (health) P Doke on Monday. The government will then decide what action is to be initiated in the case," said Dr N J Rathod, additional director of the health department.
On Tuesday a drive was undertaken across the state in which vitamin A doses were given to children up to to the age of six. In Nagpur, the drive was conducted by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation.
However, in Indira Nagar slum Rotary Club too got involved in the drive without an official sanction. Free T-shirts were distributed to children who received doses.

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