Increasing cases: Kerala to launch door-to-door campaign to reduce anaemia
The Kerala government’s initiative will be rolled out in addition to the Centre’s Anaemia Mukt Bharat programme. The campaign will reach 1.3 crore women across the state in six months.
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Anaemia is a condition where there is a decline in the number of healthy red blood cells in the body resulting in a reduction in oxygen flow to the organs. (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock) With the last round of the National Family Health Survey reporting an increase in anaemia cases, despite the implementation of Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) initiative, the Kerala government has decided to conduct a door-to-door campaign to test and implement graded intervention to reduce the burden of anaemia.
The campaign will start on February 18, said a government official.
Anaemia is a condition where there is a decline in the number of healthy red blood cells in the body resulting in a reduction in oxygen flow to the organs. Anaemia at the time of pregnancy can result in premature birth and low weight babies.
The AMB was launched in 2018 to reduce prevalence of anaemia in women, children and adolescents. It includes initiatives such as iron folic acid supplementation, deworming in children, checking haemoglobin levels and providing good nutrition.
The Kerala government’s initiative will be in addition to the Government of India’s ABM programme. The campaign is aimed at reaching out to 1.3 crore women across the state in six months.
“During the survey, ASHA workers will reach out to all women in the state – beginning with the most vulnerable – and test haemoglobin levels at their doorstep using a strip-based test kit. Those with severe anaemia will be sent to hospitals for immediate treatment and others will be given iron folic acid supplements. Doctors at the local PHCs will then find out what could be the cause of anaemia and address it accordingly. They will be advised to take proper nutrition,” said the official, on condition of anonymity.
Although lower than the national average, Kerala has witnessed an increase in anaemia cases, following the national pattern. Prevalence of anaemia in Kerala has increased from 34.3% in NFHS4 to 36.3% in NFHS5 among women between 15 and 49 years of age. Nationally, it has increased from 53.1% to 57%.
Although data from most of the states was captured in 2019 for NFHS 5, just a year after the ABM was launched, senior government officials said that there was a need to understand why there was an increase in anaemia cases and modify the programme accordingly.
After the door-to-door campaign, another survey will be undertaken after six months to see whether the anaemia profile of the state improved and whether the interventions worked.
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