(a) whether the Government is aware that there are large number of anaemia
cases in rural areas of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether these anaemia cases risk the pregnant women and children the most;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action being taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY)
(a) &(b): Yes. As per National Family Health survey –III (2005-06), the
prevalence of anemia among children (6-59 months) and women (15-49 years)
in rural areas of the country is 71.5% and 57.4% respectively.
Anemia is a multifaceted problem. Besides nutritional factors
namely iron, folic acid, B12, vitamin C, protein, the other causes for
anemia are parasitic infections, malaria, physiological status namely
menstrual cycle in adolescent girls, pregnancy and lactation. The other
reasons are (i) frequent pregnancies with shorter intervals, (ii) faulty
feeding practices & lack of dietary diversification,(iii) illiteracy,
(iv) poverty, (v) socio- economic conditions, (vi) poor hygienic conditions,
(vii) genetic factor.
(c) & (d): Nutritional anaemia is one of the most important causes of
maternal mortality and foetal loss. Intra uterine iron deficiency is
known to cause irreversible changes in brain development. Consequently
in early childhood, Iron Deficiency Anemia is associated with poor attention
and concentration.
(e): In order to make a dent in prevention and control of anemia, the
Government has adopted life cycle approach by providing iron and folic
acid tablets having 100 mg of elemental Iron and 0.5 mg of Folic Acid
for at least 100 days to Pregnant & Lactating women, iron and folic
acid syrup having 20 mg of elemental Iron and 100 mcg of Folic Acid
per ml of liquid formulation to 6 months to 5 years children, small
tablet having 30 mg elemental Iron and 250 mcg of folic acid to
Children 6-10 years. In a newly launched initiative, adolescent girls
are provided Weekly Iron and Folic Acid supplementation of adult dose.
Further, States/UTs have been asked to identify and track severely
anemic cases including pregnant women at all Sub-Centres and PHCs for
their timely management.