Question

Find out the status of anaemia among the boys and girls in your State. What schemes have been developed by your State and the Government of India to tackle anaemia?

Answer 1

The State is not specified, so its boys’ and girls’ anaemia rates cannot be stated accurately. To complete the state-specific part, consult the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) state fact sheet or the State Health Department. Compare the figures for boys and girls in the same age group, and note the survey year. The supplied text reports that, across India in NFHS-4 (2015–16), 28% of children had mild anaemia, 29% moderate anaemia and 2% severe anaemia; these figures are for children and should not be presented as current state-level rates for boys and girls.

Schemes and measures to investigate

• Government of India: Anemia Mukt Bharat, which uses a multi-pronged approach including iron–folic acid (IFA) supplementation, deworming, screening and treatment, nutrition education, and action on causes such as malaria and haemoglobin disorders.
• Adolescents: The Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) programme provides preventive IFA supplementation and deworming for adolescents through schools and community services.
• State Government: Check the State Health Department’s current anaemia-control plan and local implementation of IFA distribution, screening, treatment, nutrition programmes and awareness activities.

For a project, record the boys’ and girls’ rates, age group, source and survey year, then briefly describe which measures are available in your district.