The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has provided an update on the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) campaign, emphasizing the nation’s ongoing efforts to combat anemia, a significant public health issue in India.

What is the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Campaign?

Launched: 2018
Objective: To reduce anemia across India using the 6x6x6 framework:

• 6 Vulnerable Groups: Focuses on children, adolescent girls, women of reproductive age, pregnant women, elderly, and women in postpartum stages.

• 6 Key Interventions: These include Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation, deworming, behavior change campaigns, anemia testing and treatment, food fortification, and addressing non-nutritional causes of anemia.

• 6 Institutional Mechanisms: Includes public health services, health workers, and digital technologies to ensure effective implementation.

6 Key Interventions Under AMB

1. Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation: Regular supplementation for all age groups, including biweekly syrup for children aged 6-59 months and weekly tablets for others.

2. Deworming: Biannual deworming for children and adolescents, and antenatal deworming for pregnant women.

3. Behavior Change Campaigns: Continuous awareness drives targeting key behaviors to reduce anemia prevalence.

4. Anemia Testing and Treatment: Use of digital tools for screening, with a focus on pregnant women and adolescents.

5. Food Fortification: Mandating the fortification of food items like wheat flour, rice, and salt with Iron and Folic Acid in government schemes.

6. Non-Nutritional Causes: Focus on diseases like malaria, hemoglobinopathies, and fluorosis that contribute to anemia, especially in endemic areas.

What is Anemia?

Anemia is a condition where a person lacks sufficient healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues. It is primarily caused by iron deficiency and results in symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and impaired physical and cognitive functions.

• WHO Definition:

  • Women of reproductive age with hemoglobin levels below 12g/dL.

  • Children under 5 with hemoglobin levels below 11g/dL.

Vulnerability and Impact of Anemia

• Vulnerable Groups:

  • Children under 5 (especially those under 2 years), adolescent girls, menstruating women, and pregnant/postpartum women.

• Impact:

  • In children, anemia impairs cognitive and motor development.

  • In adults, it leads to decreased work capacity.

  • During pregnancy, it increases the risk of perinatal loss, prematurity, and low birth weight babies.

Anemia in India and Globally

• Global Prevalence:

  • 40% of children (6-59 months), 37% of pregnant women, and 30% of non-pregnant women are affected globally.

• Anemia in India:

  • According to NFHS-5, 67.1% of children and 59.1% of adolescent girls are anemic.

• Global Health Burden:

  • In 2019, anemia caused a loss of 50 million years of healthy life, primarily due to iron deficiency, thalassemia, sickle cell trait, and malaria.

WHO's Global Commitment

• Anemia Reduction Targets: WHO has included anemia reduction as a key goal in its Global Nutrition Targets for 2025, aiming to reduce anemia in women of reproductive age by 50%.

• Global Nutrition Targets (2025):

  1. Reduce stunting in children under 5 by 40%.

  2. Cut anemia in women of reproductive age by 50%.

  3. Reduce low birth weight by 30%.

  4. Reduce childhood wasting to below 5%.

  5. Achieve 50% exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months.

  6. Prevent childhood obesity.