A general medical camp with special focus on nutritional assessment was organized by JIMS Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital on 24th October & 8th November.
Anthropometry and general screening examination was done.
Students did the BMI and got experience on how the indices should be calculated including weight for age to measure growth and malnutrition.
School children were examined in 2 visits; the total 136 children were screened. Out of 136 children, 9 (12%) were found to be mildly undernourished, 54 (72%) with normal nourishment and 12 (16%) were overweight. Pallor was found from mild to severe among 42 (31%) out of 136 examined making it a big number for micronutrient deficiency.
Most of them were given Ferrum Phos 6x and few received other medicines according to complaints. A follow up for these students will be done after a month and specifically Ferrum Phos 6x and other medicines addressed to relieve anemia will be given.
The undernourishment can be addressed by educating these children about intake of adequate quantity of the food which usually these kids avoid. An increased carbohydrate and protein content in their daily meals may also be thought of. The main sources of carbohydrates are Rice, Wheat, Ragi, Jonna, Corn, etc. Protein sources are soya seeds, lentils and sprouted seeds apart from milk and egg.
We suggest Raagi, the millet in the form of ‘jaava’ for all the children to get calcium abundant in it along with carbohydrate. The ‘Central Food Technology and Research Institute’ (CFTRI) of Mysore has developed technology to de-husk raagi so that the same can be cooked like rice; adding variety to raagi food which otherwise only used for java and ‘Sankati’ preparation.
