by Swati Patil
PUNE, AUG 2, 2017: Over 550 parents of students studying in standard one to four, of Don Bosco Primary School, Pune, attended a health awareness programme, animated 
by Doctor Anuradha Khadilkar, an expert in epidemology and a pediatrician in Jehangir Clinical Development Centre, Pune on July 26.
Doctor Khadilkar addressed issues like child growth, habits, and introduced a nutritional programme for students between the ages of seven to ten, wherein they would be provided with a nutritional health drink daily for nine months, free of cost. The programme was aimed at fostering the concept of 'continuum of care', which meant offering children fortified malt-based food products to boost their immune system.
Doctor Khadilkar also explained that the nutritional programme would include physical examination of students, monitoring student absenteeism due to illness, dietary couselling to both parents and teachers, blood sampling of students to assess their hemoglobin and protein levels.
Doctor Khadilkar further added that the test results would be shared with parents. Free consultation and medical advice will also be provided to both the student as well as the parent, while health and nutrition education would be available to the school staff. Finally, she added that special treatment for diabetic students would be provided free of cost.