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Anaemia
A study published in the journal ‘BMJ Nutrition’ found that food fortification using only folate and vitamin B12 may not be sufficient to address the problem of anaemia in women.
What is Anaemia?
Anemia is a medical condition characterized by a lack of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues.
When there are not enough red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, the body’s cells do not get enough oxygen, which can cause fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms.
Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable, with an increased risk of maternal and child mortality.
WHO standard: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), women in the reproductive age group and having haemoglobin levels lower than 12 grams per decilitre (g / dL), as well as children under five with haemoglobin levels lower than 11.0 g / dL are considered anaemic.
Types of anaemia: There are several types of anemia, including:
Iron-deficiency anemia, which is the most common type and is caused by a lack of iron in the body.
Vitamin-deficiency anemia, which is caused by a lack of vitamin B12 or folate, and
Hemolytic anemia, which is caused by the destruction of red blood cells.
Causal factors: Anemia can be caused by a variety of factors, including poor nutrition, chronic diseases such as kidney disease or cancer, inherited conditions such as sickle cell anemia, and certain medications.
Treatment: Treatment for anemia depends on the underlying cause and may include iron supplements, vitamin supplements, blood transfusions, or other medical interventions.
Implications:
It affects cognitive and physical development in children and reduces productivity in adults.
Anaemia is an indicator of both poor nutrition and poor health.
It can also impact other global nutritional concerns such as stunting and wasting, low birth weight and childhood overweight and obesity due to lack of energy to exercise.
School performance in children and reduced work productivity in adults due to anaemia can have further social and economic impacts for the individual and family.
Prevalence of Anaemia in India and the World
According to the National Family Health Survey 2019-20, Indian women and children are overwhelmingly anaemic.
Under phase I, 22 states and UTs were surveyed and in a majority of these states and UTs, more than half the children and women were found to be anaemic.
WHO estimates that 42% of children less than 5 years of age and 40% of pregnant women worldwide are anaemic.
Prevalence in Indian men: The Lancet Global Health survey revealed that nearly one in four men (23.2%) in the age group 15-54 years in India were anaemic (mild, moderate, or severe).
Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common form, making up about 50% of all anemia cases in India.
Government Interventions
Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB): It is a national campaign launched by the Government of India in 2018 with the aim of reducing the prevalence of anaemia among women and children in India through a life cycle approach.
The campaign aims to increase awareness about anaemia, promote the consumption of iron-rich foods, and provide iron and folic acid supplements to vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and children.
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Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS): This Programme is being implemented to meet the challenge of high prevalence and incidence of anaemia amongst adolescent girls and boys.
The intervention under WIFS includes supervised weekly ingestion of Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablets.
To control worm infestation, biannual deworming with Albendazole is provided.
Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS): Government implements Anganwadi Services, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and a Scheme for Adolescent Girls under the Umbrella of ICDS as targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in the country.
POSHAN Abhiyaan: It is a flagship national nutrition mission to improve nutrition among children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme: It is a school meal programme in India designed to better the nutritional standing of school-age children.
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): It has been launched to focus on conducting special ANC check up on 9th of every month with the help of medical officers to detect and treat cases of anaemia.
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