ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): Yes. According to National Family Health Survey 4 (2015-16), in India, 53.0 percent women aged 15-49 years were anaemic. Prevalence of anaemia among different sub groups of women are given in Annexure I. Further, State/UT wise percentage of men, women and children with anaemia is given in Annexure II.
(c): To improve the situation, the following details of mechanism put in place by the Government for women/ children suffering from anaemia:
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 Deficiency Anemia prevalent across the life cycle. There are age specific interventions with Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation and Deworming for improving the hemoglobin levels and reducing the prevalence of anemia for all age groups, that is children 6-59 months, 5–10 years, adolescent girls and boys (11-19 years), pregnant and lactating women and women in reproductive age group (20–49 years).
II. Universal screening of pregnant women for anaemia 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-centres and primary health centres and other health facilities as well as through outreach activities at Village Health & Nutrition Days (VHNDs).
III. Every pregnant woman is given iron and folic acid, after the first trimester, to be taken one tablet daily for 6 months during ante-natal and post-natal period. Pregnant women, who are found to be clinically anaemic, are given additional tablets for taking two tablets daily
IV. Government of India has given directions to the States for identification and tracking of severely anaemic cases at all the Sub Centres and Primary Health Centres for their timely management.
V. To tackle the problem of anaemia due to malaria particularly in pregnant women and children, Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) and Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITBNs) are being distributed in endemic areas.
Key Programmes and Schemes of Other Ministries
• Under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme of Ministry of Women and Child Development (M/oWCD), supplementary nutrition is provided to pregnant and lactating women at the rate of Rs. 5 per day per woman. This is meant to provide 600 Kcal and 18–20 grams of protein. Children in the age group 0–6 years receive supplementary nutrition, immunisation, preschool education, etc.
• Supplementary food is also provided to primary school children through the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (Mid-day Meal programme).
• Other schemes of the M/oWCD, for example SABLA, where supplementary nutrition is provided to Adolescent Girls (AGs) in the form of take home rations (THR) or hot cooked meals. Under SABLA, each AG will be given at least 600 calories and 18–20 grams of protein and the recommended daily intake of micronutrients, at Rs. 5 per day per beneficiary, for 300 days in a year.
(d): The Central government provides financial assistant to states/UTs for Diagnostic tests, Medications and for buying required test kits from outside through PIP under the National Health Mission (NHM).
(e): The following steps taken by the Government to spread awareness: -
Health and nutrition education through IEC (Information Education Communication) / BCC (Behaviour Change Communication) to promote dietary diversification, inclusion of iron folate rich food as well as food items that promotes iron absorption. Health Management Information System & Mother Child Tracking System is being implemented for reporting the cases of anaemic and severely anaemic pregnant women.
Mother Child Protection Card and Safe Motherhood Booklet are distributed to the pregnant women for educating them on dietary diversification and promotion of consumption of IFA.
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