Anaemia Mukt Bharat
Source: PIB
Why in the news?
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare recently provided details about the Anaemia Mukt Bharatstrategy. The Government of India launched the Anaemia Mukt Bharatstrategy in 2018, to reduce anaemia in vulnerable age groups such as women, children, and adolescents. It is built on a life cycle approach, providing preventive and curative mechanisms through a 6X6X6 strategy that includes six target beneficiaries, six interventions, and six institutional mechanisms to ensure that the strategy is implemented by all stakeholders.
What is meant by anaemia?
Anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or their oxygen-carrying capacity is insufficient to meet physiologic needs, which vary depending on age, sex, altitude, smoking status, and pregnancy status.
The most common cause of anaemia is iron deficiency, however other conditions such as folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin A deficiencies, chronic inflammation, parasitic infections, and inherited disorders can also cause anaemia.
It is associated with fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and drowsiness in its severe form. Women who are pregnant and children are particularly vulnerable.
According to the National Family Health Survey 2019-20, the majority of Indian women and children are anaemic.
In phase I, 22 states and UTs were surveyed, and more than half of the children and women in the majority of these states and UTs were found to be anaemic.
Women of reproductive age with haemoglobin levels less than 12 grams per deciliter (g / dL) and children under five with haemoglobin levels less than 11.0 g / dL are considered anaemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
What are the other government initiatives aimed at reducing anaemia?
Health is a state subject, and the major duty for improving healthcare services, including the implementation of national policies, rests with the respective State/UT government.
Under the National Health Mission, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare offers financial and technical assistance to states/UTs.
Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS): This programme is being launched to address the problem of adolescent girls and boys having a high prevalence and incidence of anaemia.
The Weekly Implementation of Folic Acid Supplementationintervention consists of supervised weekly ingestion of Iron Folic Acid tablets.
Albendazole deworming is used biannually to control worm infestation.
The Health Management Information System and the Mother-Child Tracking System are being introduced to report and track cases of anaemic and severely anaemic pregnant women.
Universal Screening of Pregnant Women for Anaemia: It is part of Ante-Natal Care (ANC), and all pregnant women are given iron and folic acid tablets during their antenatal visits through the existing network of sub-centres, primary health centres, and other health facilities, as well as through outreach activities at Village Health & Nutrition Days (VHNDs).
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan: This initiative was started to focus on conducting special ANC check-ups on the 9th of every month with the assistance of medical officers in order to detect and treat cases of anaemia.
To address issues caused by severe anaemia, blood banks in district hospitals and blood storage units in sub-district facilities such as Sub-Divisional Hospitals/Community Health Centers are being operationalized.
