Lok Sabha Question No. 2606 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-17
Subject: Anaemia
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2606 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH MARCH, 2017

## ANAEMIA

## 2606. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  prevalence  of  anaemia  in  women  of  reproductive  age  group  (15 - 49  years) during the last three years, as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  launched  any  co mprehensive  Scheme  to  combat  the  public health challenge of Iron Deficiency Anaemia; and
- (c) the details of other measures taken by the Government to prevent and treat anaemia a women in the country?

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

- (a):     The prevalence of Anemia in reproductive age group (15 - 49 years) is captured through National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and the data is not available every year.

Prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age group (15 - 49 years) in India has witnessed a decline from 55.3% in 2005 - 06(NFHS - III) to 53.0% in 2015 - 16(NFHS - IV).

- (b) & (c):     Under the National Health Mission (NHM), the steps taken to tackle anaemia  for women of reproductive age group (15 - 49 years) are:
- i. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2013 launched 'National Iron plus Initiative' as a comprehensive strategy to combat the public health challenge of Iron Defici Anemia preva lent across the life cycle. There are age specific interventions with Ir Folic Acid Supplementation and Deworming for improving 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 ye ars).

Contd…….

- ii. Universal screening of pregnant women for anemia is a part of ante - natal  care and all pregnant  women  are  provided  iron  and  folic  acid  tablets  during  their  ante - natal  visits through the existing network of sub - centers and primary health centers and other he al facilities  as  well  as  through  outreach  activities  at  Village  Health  &  Nutritio (VHNDs).  These women are also counselled for dietary habits.
- iii. Pradhan  Mantri  Surakshit  Matritva  Abhiyan  (PMSMA)  has  been  recently  launched  to focus  on  conducting  spe cial  ANC  check  up  on  9th  of  every  month  with  the  help  of Medical officers/ OBGYN to detect and treat cases of anemia.
- iv. Health  management  information  system  &  Mother  Child  tracking  system  is  being implemented      for  reporting  and  tracking  the  cases  of  anemic and  severely  anemic pregnant women.
- v. 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 anemic, are given additional tablet for takin g two tablets daily.
- vi. 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.
- vii. To tackle  the  problem  of  anemia  due  to  malaria  particularly  in  pregnant  women  a children,  Long  Lasting  Insecticide  Nets  (LLINs)  and  Insecticide  Treated  Bed  N (ITBNs) are being distributed in endemic areas.
- viii. Health and nutrition education through IEC & B CC to promote dietary diversification, inclusion of iron folate rich food as well as food items that promotes iron absorpti
- ix. MCP Card and Safe Motherhood Booklet is being distributed to the pregnant women fo educating them on dietary diversification and promotion of consumption of IFA.
- x. Information,  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  material  in  the  form  of  poster hoardings,  wall - writings  and  audio - visuals  have  been  developed  disseminated  to  the States/UTs to promote prevention of anemia.

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