Anaemia Mukt Bharat: India’s Fight Against Anaemia

Anaemia Mukt Bharat is a government initiative aimed at reducing anaemia prevalence among children, adolescents, and women in India through iron supplementation, dietary improvements, and public awareness. The mission promotes better nutrition and health to support national development.

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Context: According to NHFS-5, 67.1% of children and 59.1% of adolescent girls in India are anaemic.

About Anaemia

Anaemia is a blood disorder that occurs when the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin.
This prevents the body from delivering enough oxygen to organs and tissues.
Vulnerable Population: Children under 5 years of age, menstruating adolescent girls, women and pregnant and postpartum women.

Causes of Anaemia

Iron-Deficiency Anaemia: Only 9% of anaemic cases could be attributed to iron deficiency.
Unknown Causes: 22% of cases were linked to unmeasured or unknown factors, which could include:
- Deficiencies in Vitamin B12 or folate.
- Hemoglobinopathies (genetic disorders affecting haemoglobin).
- Undetected blood loss.
- Unhygienic environments or air pollution.

Anaemia Mukt Bharat

Anaemia Mukt Bharat was launched in 2018 with a 6x6x6 strategy under which there are six interventions to reduce the prevalence of anaemia (nutritional and non-nutritional) in six age groups.

UPSC PYQ

Q. Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat (2023)

It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women.
It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of childbirth.
It provides for periodic deworming of children and adolescents.
It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) All four

Answer: C