Daijiworld Media Network - Nurpur
Nurpur, Dec 26: Panic gripped parents after five students of a private senior secondary school near Nurpur developed gastritis-like symptoms following consumption of iron folic acid tablets distributed at the school under a government health programme.
The incident occurred on Thursday at MCS Senior Secondary School, Raja ka Bagh, where iron folic acid supplements supplied by the Health Department were administered to students as part of the Centre-sponsored Iron Folic Acid Supplementation programme.
According to officials, the supplements were given to around 550 students, but only five children reported discomfort, triggering concern among parents who rushed their wards to hospitals in Nurpur and Pathankot.
Chief Medical Officer Vivek Karol said the students were administered the tablets on an empty stomach, whereas the supplement is meant to be taken after meals, which likely caused the adverse reaction.
“As a precautionary measure, the drug inspector has been directed to put the entire stock of the supplement on hold at the Health Department store in Gangath and send samples for laboratory testing to rule out any issue with the medicine,” the CMO said, adding that further action would depend on the test reports.
Providing details of the treatment, Block Medical Officer Dr Dilwar Singh said that three students were treated at the OPD of Nurpur Civil Hospital, while one girl was admitted to the emergency ward and later discharged after a few hours of observation. Another student taken to a private hospital in Pathankot was also discharged the same evening.
“All affected students have fully recovered and there is no cause for panic,” the BMO assured.
Meanwhile, Drug Inspector Pyar Chand Thakur said the remaining stock of the iron folic acid supplement at the Gangath store has been frozen and samples will be sent for testing on Friday.
Attempts to contact the principal of MCS Senior Secondary School for a response were unsuccessful, as her mobile phone remained switched off.