Medical kits and vegetable seeds supplied to Karimnagar anganwadi centers

Medical kits have been supplied to anganwadi centers in Karimnagar to treat children. Selected centers are also growing vegetables under the Poshan Vatika scheme. Each center received medicines, seeds, and Rs 10,000 for five years to maintain vegetable gardens

Karimnagar: To provide treatment to children, medical kits have been supplied to anganwadi centers in the erstwhile Karimnagar district. A majority of the centers have already received the kits, ensuring children can get immediate care when needed.

Children spend most of their time in anganwadi centers. Besides pre-primary education in the morning, they are encouraged to play in the afternoon after a brief sleep at noon. Earlier, there was no facility to provide treatment if children were injured or fell sick during their stay. Anganwadi staff had to take children to nearby health centres, which often caused delays and inconvenience.

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To provide treatment at the centers, medical kits consisting of ten types of medicines have been supplied. Booklets with prescription details were also provided. Each center received: Paracetamol tablets 100, Paracetamol syrup 10 bottles, Albendazole syrup 10 bottles, Permethrin lotion 3 bottles, Cryproploksesain and Ear drop 6 bottles, Proficient skin cream 1 tube, Antiseptic liquid 2 bottles, Absorbent cotton 2 bundles, cotton bandage 6 rolls and Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) 30 packets. These kits are expected to help children get timely care and reduce dependence on external medical visits.

Meanwhile, vegetable cultivation in selected anganwadi centers has already started. To provide nutritious food to children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, the central government has decided to grow nutri-gardens under the Poshan Vatika scheme. Organic farming methods are being followed to ensure safe and healthy produce. While children receive pre-primary education in the morning, nutritious meals are supplied alongside, benefiting both children and women attending the centers.

Earlier, vegetables were purchased from markets. Frequent shortages, rising prices, and indiscriminate use of fertilisers prompted the government to grow vegetables locally. Cultivation is being taken up in centers that have their own buildings and in those where sufficient land is available. Six types of vegetable seeds—tomato, brinjal, ladyfinger, spinach, amaranth, and fenugreek—have been supplied through the National Seed Development Corporation.

Each center is also provided Rs 10,000 for five years to maintain the vegetable gardens. The funds can be used for land leveling, fertile soil, fertiliser, fencing, and other requirements. A total of 35 centers have been identified out of 172 under Karimnagar urban CDPO, and seed kits have already been distributed to these centers to ensure smooth implementation of the scheme.