Lok Sabha Question No. 3056 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-13
Subject: Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Subbarayan K, Com. Selvaraj V

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3056 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH DECEMBER, 2024

## IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA

## 3056. SHRI SUBBARAYAN K: COM. SELVARAJ V:

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

- (a) the total number and percentage of people affected by iron deficiency anaemia in the country;
- (b) whether there is an increase in the number of anaemic population in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the efforts being made by the Government to address the challenge of increasing anaemic population; and
- (d) whether the Government monitors the implementation of these projects and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) and (b) The prevalence of anaemia across age groups as per the National Family Health Surveys 4 and 5 is as under.

| Survey   |   Children age 6-59 months who are anaemic (%) |   All women age 15-19 years who are anaemic (%) |   All women age 15-49 years who are anaemic (%) |   Pregnant women age 15- 49 years who are anaemic (%) |   Breastfeeding women age 15- 49 who are anaemic (%) |
|----------|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| NFHS 5   |                                           67.1 |                                            59.1 |                                            57   |                                                  52.2 |                                                 60.6 |
| NFHS 4   |                                           58.6 |                                            54.1 |                                            53.1 |                                                  50.4 |                                                 58   |

(c) The Government of India implements Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme in 6X6X6 strategy to reduce the prevalence of anaemia in a life cycle approach among six

beneficiary groups - Children 6-59 months, Children 5-9 years, Adolescents (10-19 years), Women of reproductive age (15-49 years), pregnant women and lactating mothers in lifecycle approach through six interventions - Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid supplementation (IFA Red is provided weekly to Women of Reproductive age group and IFA Red tablets (daily for 180 days) are provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers), Deworming, Intensified year-round behaviour change communication campaign, Testing of anaemia using digital invasive hemoglobinometer and point of care treatment, Mandatory provision of iron and folic acid fortified foods in public health programmes, addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets, with special focus on malaria, haemoglobinopathies and fluorosis, via robust institutional mechanism.

(d) The Government undertakes National/Regional/ State level review meetings, field visits to States/UTs and Common Review Missions (CRMs) to assess the implementation of Anaemia Mukt Bharat. Field level workers as ANMs, CHOs and ASHAs promote awareness on anaemia prevention, management and healthy diets. Supportive supervision visits to strengthen the health interventions for anaemia in children, adolescents and women including pregnant and lactating women in States/UTs are carried out.

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