GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS FOR ANEMIA IN INDIA

~ By RANU SINGH

Anemia is a major public health problem in India that affects millions of people, especially women, and children It occurs when the body lacks red blood cells or haemoglobin, leading to weakness, fatigue, and other health issues The lack of iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 in the diet causes Anemia

To combat this issue, the Government of India has launched several programs.

One of these programs is the National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI), which provides iron and folic acid supplements to pregnant and lactating women, women in reproductive age groups, and children aged between 6-60 months, 5-10 years, and 10-19 years The program aims to raise awareness about Anemia and its prevention. Pregnant and lactating women are given 100mg of elemental iron and 500mcg of folic acid daily for 100 days, starting after the first trimester, while women in reproductive age groups receive 100mg of elemental iron and 500mcg of folic acid weekly throughout the reproductive period

Children between the ages of 6-60 months are given 1ml of IFA syrup containing 20mg of elemental iron and 100mcg of folic acid biweekly throughout the period, while children aged between 5-10 years are given tablets of 45mg of elemental iron and 400mcg of folic acid weekly throughout the period Adolescents aged between 10-19 years receive 100mg of elemental iron and 500mcg of folic acid weekly throughout the period and biannual deworming The program has successfully increased the coverage of iron and folic acid supplementation in the country, reducing the prevalence of Anemia among pregnant women and children.

Another program launched by the Government of India to combat Anemia is the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) program. Its strategy includes a 6X6X6 approach: six target beneficiaries, six interventions, and six institutional mechanisms. The beneficiaries include children aged 6-59 months, 5-9 years, adolescent girls and boys aged 10-19 years, pregnant women, women of reproductive age (20-24 years), and lactating mothers (0-6 months) The six interventions are prophylactic iron and folic acid supplementation, deworming, intensified year-round Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Campaign, testing of Anemia using digital methods and point of care treatment, mandatory provision of Iron and Folic Acid fortified foods in government-funded health programs, and addressing non-nutritional causes of Anemia in endemic pockets, with special focus on malaria, haemoglobinopathies, and fluorosis