The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : `Micronutrient deficiencies a drain on economy'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 07, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

`Micronutrient deficiencies a drain on economy'

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The prevalence of micronutrient deficiency disorders impacts the overall economy not just in terms of treatment costs but also in current and future productivity, said G.D. Aruna, director, Women Development and Child Welfare, here on Monday.

She was inaugurating a State-level workshop on `Micronutrient deficiencies: a drain on Indian economy' at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).

G.M. Subba Rao, NIN's Research Officer, put the cumulative economic loss at Rs.514,400 crores due to impaired worker productivity, because of mental impairment, stunting and anaemia caused by micronutrient deficiencies. He said if stunting could be reduced by a third, the percentage of anaemia could be cut by 40 and iodine deficiency disorders eliminated by 2012. A total productivity of gain of about Rs. 1,30,000 crores could accrue.

Group discussion

The workshop culminated in a group discussion on difficulties being faced by the Government and NGO sectors in implementing various programmes for combating micronutrient deficiencies. It was organised as part of the National Nutrition Week.

Scientists and academicians made presentations on combating micronutrient deficiencies, according to a press release.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh