TEHRAN – The Ministry of Health is implementing a national micronutrient supplement program in which iron and vitamin D are distributed to high schools and distributed to high schools to address student defects, health ministry officials said.
The Iron Supplementary Program began 23 years ago at a girls’ high school. According to the program, female students receive one pill each week, citing Ahmad Esmaeilzadeh as saying for four months in school grade.
Iron deficiency causes anemia. Disrupts concentrations, negatively affects learning ability, leads to fatigue, and weakens the immune system. In addition to taking supplements, it is also recommended to consume iron-rich diets such as meat and legumes, officials said.
Coverage of the iron supply programme increased from 57% in Iran in 1400 (2021-2022) to 91% in 1402 (2023-2024).
Officials went on to say that in 2014 the Vitamin D supplementation program was launched nationwide. Currently, Vitamin D (including 50,000 international units) is given to each female student in the high school every month.
Over the past three years, coverage of the program has skyrocketed from 51% to 80%, indicating effective cooperation between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and parents.
The challenges to the program include limited budgets, disagreement among school administrators, or student resistance to taking supplements, Esmaeilzadeh added.
mt/mg