Medical test for all children under 18 must: Secretary

Dharwad: Social welfare department commissioner Ravikumar Surpur, who is also the secretary in-charge of Dharwad district, has asked the officials to conduct medical tests on children to prevent the possible third wave of Covid-19.

Chairing the meeting to review the progress of works under the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) here on Monday he said experts have predicted that the third wave is likely to impact children and hence, the chief minister has directed the officials to come up with plans to contain the spread of infection. Accordingly, all children within 18 years should compulsorily undergo medical examination. Parents should be informed and motivated to get their wards tested, he said.

Ravikumar further said that pregnant women should be educated on consuming nutritious food. Anganwadi workers have to visit pregnant women twice a month, monitor their health and ensure that they consume nutritious food, he added.

The women and child development department and labour department should work together and eradicate child labour. If children are found working in hotels, garages or factories, they should be rescued and rehabilitated. Cases should be booked on those hiring children for work, he said.

Ravikumar, who is also the administrator of ZP, asked the agriculture and horticulture officials to sensitise farmers on growing nutritional food and adopt organic farming.