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Addressing Iron Deficiency Anemia:
12 x 12 Initiative
Estimates suggest that
over one third of the world’s population suffers from anemia, mostly iron
deficiency anemia. India
continues to be one of the countries with very high prevalence. National
Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) reveals the prevalence of anemia to be 70-80%
in children, 70% in pregnant women and 24% in adult men. Prevalence of anemia
in India
is high because of low dietary intake, poor availability of iron and chronic
blood loss due to hook worm infestation and malaria. While anemia has well
known adverse effects on physical and cognitive performance of individuals,
the true toll of iron deficiency anemia lies in the ill-effects on maternal
and fetal health. Poor nutritional status and anemia in pregnancy have
consequences that extend over generations.
In order to tackle this
pressing public health problem, a multi-pronged 12 x 12 initiative has been
launched in the country. The initiative is targeted at all adolescents across
the country with the aim for achieving hemoglobin level of 12 gm% by the age
of 12 years by 2012. The important elements of the initiative are as follows:
 Capacity building
Health and nutrition education
Increasing iron intake
Weekly supplementation with iron folic acid
tablet
Parasite control through periodic de-worming
Appropriate immunization
This initiative has
been launched with the support of Government of India, Indian Council of
Medical Research, World Health Organization, UNICEF, Federation of Obstetrics
and Gynecological Societies of India, professional bodies and others. More>…
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Workshop on Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness:
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