Bhubaneswar, Nov. 3: Fear and myths prevalent among parents and students about the iron folic acid supplements provided in schools pose a hurdle in achieving the desired outcome of the National Iron Plus Initiative launched in the state in 2013.

Iron folic acid is used for treating anaemia caused by low levels of iron or folate in the blood.

Under the programme, all children studying in classes I to X in all government and government-aided schools are given a weekly dose of iron folic acid supplements.

The supplements are given after their midday meal every Monday under the teachers' supervision. The students are also given bi-annual de-worming tablets in August and February.

"Although progress has been made in the initiative, challenges remain. Lack of awareness among the communities regarding the harmful consequences of anaemia and benefits of the iron folic acid supplements, along with a fear of side effects resulting from its consumption, are the major challenges before the programme," said state nodal officer of the midday meal scheme Gangadhar Sahoo.

He was speaking during an event titled Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation in Schools, organised by Unicef and the school and mass education department.

"Parents are scared of common side effects such as stomach ache and nausea that the students develop. However, these are temporary and disappear within a few days or weeks, as soon as the body gets accustomed to it. But on certain occasions, the cases are exaggerated and the rumours affect other kids psychologically. The parents lose trust and the children avoid taking these supplements," said another senior official from the midday meal programme.

"Sometime the unabsorbed iron is excreted from the body because of which the colour of the stool changes to black. It is an indication that the tablets are working correctly. But often it is suspected to be harmful. Similarly, there is a myth that during pregnancy, consuming iron folic acid tablets would make the baby grow big in the uterus and cause trouble during birth. These supplements neither make the baby grow big nor affect the colour of the baby," he said.

The state government has put in place an emergency response system at the district and block point to address any adverse event following iron folic acid consumption.

In the state, more than 70 per cent of the population is anaemic with adolescent anaemia (10 to 17 years) at a high of 74 per cent.

"Anaemia impacts cognitive and motor development in children, productivity in adults and also the body's immune system. In pregnancy, it causes prenatal loss, pre-term delivery and low birth weight babies. Fifty per cent of anaemia in Indians is due to deficiency of iron," said Unicef's nutrition officer Shweta Sharma.

According to the AHS-CAB Report-2014, nine states, covered under the survey, have alarming rates of anaemia in all age groups ranging from 71 to 94 per cent.