Preschoolers fed drugs since 2008
Print Edition
TWO kindergartens in Xi’an in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province have been giving antiviral drugs to children since 2008, without parents’ knowledge, local authorities announced yesterday.
Investigations have confirmed that the kindergartens gave some children prescription medicine moroxydine ABOB to prevent cold and enhance resistance to improve their attendance, local officials said at a press conference last night.
Five staff members at the kindergartens involved have been detained over “illegal medical practice.”
Yesterday, police detained the deputy principal of Hongji Xincheng kindergarten, surnamed Zhao, and the kindergarten doctor.
Fengyun kindergarten’s legal representative, surnamed Sun, its principal, surnamed Zhao, and the kindergarten doctor, surnamed Huang, were detained on Wednesday.
Nearly 1,500 children from the two privately owned kindergartens may have been given the cold treatment, which is suspected of making some ill.
The Hongji Xincheng and Fengyun kindergartens are affiliated to the Shaanxi Soong Ching Ling Foundation charity, said the Xi’an government.
The latest investigation showed the kindergartens bought 54,600 tablets of moroxydine ABOB on 10 occasions from four medical companies between November 2008 and October 2013.
Children were offered the pills on every spring and fall.
The kindergartens gave young children half or one tablet per day for two days a week, and one tablet per day for three days for elder children.
Earlier, Xi’an municipal government submitted 1,000 tablets found in Fengyun kindergarten for further testing.
Medical experts said it is not effective to use moroxydine ABOB to prevent colds and can cause side effects such as poor appetite and low blood sugar.
However, the drug won’t affect children’s physical and mental development, they added.
Concerned parents can take their children for a free checkup at the Xi’an Children’s Hospital, officials said.
Local authorities have sent new principals, teachers and doctors to the kindergartens, which were open yesterday.
The practice was exposed by a parent in a microblog on Sunday.
Dozens of parents on Tuesday blocked the road at Fengyun kindergarten demanding an explanation. The same situation occurred in Hongji Xincheng kindergarten on Wednesday.
Parents said their children complained of constipation, stomachache, leg pains and loss of appetite.
Investigations continue.
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