‘More than 5 crores adolescents are anaemic in India’
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 28 (MExN)
Nagaland will join the rest of the country in launching the weekly Iron & Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) programme for adolescents on April 2 at the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima. Minister for health & family welfare I. Imkong Imchen will grace the occasion as the chief guest at 11:00AM. The function will be chaired by Sentiyanger Imchen, IAS, commissioner & secretary Health & Family Welfare. Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru, joint director NRHM will share overview of WIFS.
Principal Director School education and director social welfare will also speak on the occasion. Vote of thanks will be proposed by Dr. Neiphi Kire, principal director health and family welfare.
WIFS programme is based on the empirical evidence that weekly supplementation of 100mg Iron and 500µg Folic acid is effective in decreasing prevalence of anaemia in adolescent age group. The programme is free of cost and Iron and Folic Acid deworming tablet, along with testing and counselling services would be provided completely free.
The progamme will be implemented in both rural and urban areas and will cover school going adolescent girls and boys from 6th to 12th class enrolled in government/government aided/municipal schools through the platform of schools, and out of school adolescent girls through the platform of Aganwadi centers. Source said this programme will cover approximately 13 Crore beneficiaries in the country and will address the challenge of high prevalence and incidence of anaemia amongst adolescent girls and boys (10-19 years).
Adolescent Anaemia has been a long standing problem in India and the country has a high prevalence. However, there has been a 5% decline in incidence of anemia amongst adolescents between National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-II (1998-99) and National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-III (2005-06). The prevalence of anaemia (Haemoglobin value of <12 g% in girls and Haemoglobin value of < 13g% in boys) is high amongst adolescents as per the report of NFHS-III and the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau Survey. It is estimated that more than 5 Crores adolescents are anaemic in India.
According to NFHS -III data, over 55 % of adolescent boys and girls in the age group of 15-19 years are anaemic. Adolescent girls in particular are more vulnerable to anaemia due to the rapid growth of the body and loss of blood during menstruation. Almost 56% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 years suffer from some form of anaemia. Of these, 39% are mildly anaemic while 15% and 2% suffer from moderate and severe anaemia respectively, the report says. In India, the highest prevalence of anaemia is reported between the ages 12-13 years, which also coincides with the average age of menarche. With increase in age, the prevalence of anaemia among girls remains almost stagnant, while among boys, the prevalence rate reduces.
The reasons for anaemia amongst adolescents are, growth spurt leading to increased demand of Iron in the body, poor dietary intake of Iron, worm infestation and high rate of infection and increased loss of Iron due to onset of menstruation (in girls).
