INDORE: Every second woman of reproductive age in Madhya Pradesh is anaemic, but the state government has failed to utilise over 40% of the funds allotted to it under the "Anaemia Mukt Bharat" scheme in the last three fiscals.
This shocking data comes from a reply of the health ministry in Rajya Sabha in the budget session.
Minister of state (MoS) for health and family welfare, Dr Bharti Pawar, informed the house that 52.9% of pregnant women aged (15-49) were anaemic in Madhya Pradesh. Over 58% adolescent girls, aged 15-19, are anaemic, according to National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS) figures, said the MoS.
What’s worrying is that anaemia has risen by 5% among adolescent girls in the state. This is seen in a comparison of NFHS-4 and -5 data. "This is seen across the country. It is more because of dietary habits, where more carbohydrate-rich foods are consumed along with unhealthy foods," National Health Mission-MP deputy director (maternal health) Dr Archana Mishra told TOI.
"There is an urgent need to counsel girls and women in the state and spread awareness on healthy food habits, like including seasonal fruits in their diet, to curb the anaemia," said Dr Mishra.
Anaemia in pregnant women could cause severe complications, including premature delivery.
The state government is making every effort to curb anaemia in reproductive age women and adolescent girls, Dr Mishra said. "Due to the government’s actions, the prevalence of anaemia in women has dipped by around 2% in MP, which is reflected in the comparison between NFHS-4 and -5 figures," she said.
"The government is providing iron supplements to pregnant women, but they don’t eat all 180 tablets. NFHS-5 figures show only 31% of pregnant women have taken their full course of 180 tablets," said Mishra.
The government is going to launch a drive to provide iron tablets to non-pregnant women of reproductive age, to be taken once a week, for a year, to curb anaemia, added Dr Mishra.
