Sonu and other children like him from slum settlements are participating in a health project called Pratham Health for pre-school children in Mumbai, launched by Pratham, a non-governmental organisation (NGO). The project invovles treatment of anaemia, Vitamin A deficiency and worm infestations. Treatment of these ailments, whcih are widely prevalent among slum population, is inexpensive with few side effects. The project will cover the entire population of slum-dwelling children in the city beginning July-August and is expected to involve nearly 70,000 children.

Pratham Health's initial pilot programme in March this year covered250 children in Wadala. Later an extended pilot programme with 2,500 Bridge Class children in the Chembur-Deonar area was carried out. Bridge classes are run by Pratham to prepare children enroll for municipal schools.

``Ninety five per cent of slum children suffer from anaemia caused by poor nutrition and lack of iron in the diet. The condition is worsened by the presence of hookworms which can suck up to one-fourth cup of blood from a child daily. Lack of Vitamin A at an early age weakens eyesight and causes night blindness which ultimately leads to blindness at an older age,'' says Dr Atul Varadhachary, a Pratham Health volunteer. Dr Varadhachary and his wife, Gauri, also a doctor, have taken a year's leave from work in the US to help create and implement this programme.

``We begin by taking the child's height and weight measurements. The child is then given a dose of iron-folic acid, Vitamin A and Albendazole for deworming. The iron supplementation continues for one month, with the teacheradministering the dose daily at school. The physical measurements help us understand the degree of malnutrition and track progress, while the direct administration of the medicines ensures 100 per cent compliance,'' says Dr Varadhachary. The whole process will be repeated four times each year.

The NGO charges Rs 2 per child for the medicines. ``This is done so that the mothers don't feel that they are attending a charity programme. It also makes them take the project seriously and gives them the right to demand their child's daily dose at school,'' Dr Varadhachary adds. Mothers who had queued up at the school said the presence of doctors at the camp had brought them here.

``We are also planning a `health and hygiene' project along with the BMC from July. It will involve weekly talks with mothers on oral rehydration, clean environment and personal hygiene of the family. The BMC has an army of community health workers (CHWs) and an abundant stock of pamphlets and written material. We are trying to convincethe civic body that their infrastructure coupled with our wide network can work wonders for the entire community'' says Dr Gauri Varadhachary.

While the Vitamin tablets have been sponsored by Nicholas Piramal, the rest of the medications are being bought by Pratham Health itself. The NGO has sought for sponsorship and active voluntary work from the community to ensure success. The total programme costs less than Rs 70 per child per year or Rs 50 lakh per year to cover the target of 70,000 children across the city.