Anti-anaemia drive: Himachal bags 3rd spot

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 6

Himachal has secured the third rank in the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Index, 2020-21. While Madhya Pradesh topped with a score of 64.1, Odisha and Himachal followed at the second and third positions, with the scores of 59.3 and 57.1, respectively.

“In 2018-19, the state ranked 18 on this index. Now, it has bagged the third spot. This has happened due to the consistent efforts of our field staff and robust implementation policies,” said a government spokesperson.

He said strategies like providing prophylactic iron and folic acid supplementation, regular de-worming of schoolchildren, intensified year-round behaviour change communication (BCC) campaign, testing of anaemia, mandatory provision of iron and folic acid fortified foods in government-funded health programmes and addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia had helped the state do well in controlling the health condition.

Given its high prevalence in India, anemia has become a serious public health concern today. Almost 50 per cent of the pregnant women, 59 per cent of the children under five years of age, 54 per cent of the adolescent girls and 53 per cent of the non-pregnant, non-lactating women of our country are anaemic.

The spokesperson said anemia during pregnancy was associated with post-partum hemorrhage, neural tube defects, low birth weight, premature births, stillbirths and maternal deaths. In other populations, anemia is associated with lowered immunity, poor cognitive development and decreased work productivity.

“The decline in anaemia prevalence will contribute to improved maternal and child survival rates and improved health outcomes for other population groups,” said the spokesperson.

Strategies adopted

A government spokesperson said strategies such as prophylactic iron and folic acid supplementation, de-worming of children helped the state do well in controlling the health condition.