Jammu, Aug 12: A Red Cross survey has made alarming revelations that 50 per cent of the school going children in Jammu district fall short of the general health standards adopted across the world.
 Sources said that the survey conducted over last two years show that every second   child in the district is unhealthy and suffer from minor malnutrition, anemia or weak eyesight.
 According to the officials nearly 20,727 school children, after a general check up the Red Cross have been referred to health institutions in past two years, while others were given medical treatment during the survey itself.
 Two year long survey was carried out in 2,659 educational institutions and Anganwari centers covering nearly 2 lakh children in the age group of 3-10 years. Around one lakh children have been found suffering from various minor ailments or over stressed due to the pressure of studies.
 The survey in Jammu district was conducted under a special project and the second phase of the study will include more districts, even those in the Kashmir valley.
 Survey carried out by the Red Cross society along with the Health Department revealed that most of the children in rural areas and government schools are far less healthy than those studying in the private schools.
 “It has alarmed us too because in most of the cases parents in rural areas don’t take the health of their wards seriously and they rely more on the alternative therapies. The issue is that these are the figures of just Jammu, what will be the condition of other areas”, said Suresh Sharma, district secretary of the Jammu Red Cross society.
  “We have taken up a project to provide medical treatment with the help of civil administration because minor problems ignored in early stages later become major health concerns”, said Sharma.
 Officials said that while children in rural areas are facing minor malnutrition, their counterparts in the urban centre are facing anemia or weak eye sight, but health wise they are better off than villages.
 A senior Health official said that the survey has given an accurate picture about the situation and a detailed project, to comprehensive medical treatment to the targeted lot, along with the help of the education department, is being implemented.
When contacted Director Health Dr Madhu Khullar said that they already have School Health Programme and every month educational institution is taken up for health check up.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST