Lok Sabha Question No. 1766 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-25
Subject: Anaemia and Breast Cancer among Women
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1766 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH NOVEMBER, 2016

## ANAEMIA AND BREAST C ANCER AMONG WOMEN

## 1766. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken certain  measures  for  the  prevention  of  the diseases relating to women particularly anaemia and breast cancer and to increase the awareness thereof in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has laid down any goals for the total eradication of anaemia in the country;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to make the haemoglobin enriching and anaemia curing supplements easily available; and
- (d) whether the Government is contemplating to open special hospitals for he cheap treatment of women  relateddiseases  and  to  increase  awareness  thereof in  Bundelkhand,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a)to(c): Under the National Health Mission (NHM), the steps taken to tackle anaemia i women  include:
1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2013 launche d 'National Iron Plus Initiative' as a comprehensive strategy to combat the public health challenge of Iron Deficiency An prevalent across the life cycle. There are age specific interventions with Iron and F Supplementation  and  Deworming  for  i mproving  the  hemoglobin  levels  and  reducing  the prevalence of anemia for all age groups, that is children 6 - 60 months, 5 -10 years, adolescent girls and boys (10 - 19  years), pregnant and lactating women and women in reproductive age group (15 -45 years).
2. Universal screening of pregnant women for anaemia is a part of ante - na al care and all pregnant women are provided iron and folic acid tablets during their ante - natal visits through the existing network of sub - centres and primary health centres and other health facilities as well  as  through  outreach  activities  at  Village  Health  &  Nutrition  Days  (VHNDs).    T women are also counselled for dietary habits.
3. Pradhan  Mantri  Surakshit  Matritva  Abhiyan(PMSMA)  has    been  recently  launched  to focus  on conducting special ANC check up on 9th of every month with the help of Medical officers/ OBGYN to detect and treat cases of anemia.
4. Health  management  information  system  &  Mother  Child  tracking  system  is  being implemented   for reporting and tracking the cases of ane mic and severely anemic pregnant women.
5. Every pregnant woman is provided with about 360 tablets of iron and folic acid to the ante natal and post natal period. Pregnant women, who are found to be clinically a are given additional tablet for taking two tablets daily.
6. Operationalization of   Blood Bank in District Hospitals and Blood Storage Unit in district facilities such as Sub - Divisional Hospital/ Community health Centers is being taken to tackle complications due to severe anemia etc.
7. To  tackle  the  problem  of  anemia  due  to  malaria  particularly  in  pregnant  women  a children, Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) and Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITBNs) being distributed in endemic areas.
8. Health and nutrition education through IE C & BCC to promote dietary diversification, inclusion of iron folate rich food as well as food items that promotes iron absorption.
9. MCP Card and Safe Motherhood Booklet is being distributed to the pregnant women fo educating them on dietary diversific ation and promotion of consumption of IFA.
10. Information,  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  material  in  the  form  of  poster hoardings,  wall - writings  and  audio - visuals  have  been  developed  to  promote  prevention  of anemia.
11. Videos and job - aids for nutrition a nd health education have also been disseminated to the States/UT.
12. The  states  /UTs  proposes  funds  for  procurement  of  IFA    supplements  based  on  the annual requirement, in their annual PIP.

## Measures for the prevention of breast cancer and to increase the awareness -

1. Central  Government  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  State  Government  for  improvin healthcare  including  prevention,  diagnosis  and  treatment  of  Cancer.  The  objective National  Programme  for  Prevention  and  Control  of  Cancer,  Diabetes,  Cardiov ascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) being implemented under National Health Mission (NHM) for  interventions  up  to  district  level  include  awareness  generation  for  Cancer  prev screening, early detection and referral to an appropriate level institutio n for treatment. The focus is on three types of cancer namely breast, cervical and oral cancer.
2. Operational guidelines for implementing population wide screenings of common cancer v breast, cervical and oral cancer have been issued to the State Governments. The guid include screening for the risk factors of cancer among common Non - Communicab le Diseases (NCDs).
3. Such screening will also spread awareness on the risk factors of common NCDs includi cancer.  Self - Breast  Examination  is  also  promoted  for  early  detection  for  breast  canc Electronic and Print media is utilized for health awareness for cancer.

(d): Under NHM, all  services related to pregnant women in terms of Ante - natal, intra - natal and   post - natal care including complications are being provided  free of cost through the e network  of  public  health  facilities  i.e.  sub - cent re,  primary  health  centers,  community  health centers and District Hospitals  and as conveyed by the State no special hospital is bein in Bundelkhand .