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New initiative to tackle anaemia during adolescence

Staff Reporter

A NEW BEGINNING: Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and AIIMS Director P. Venugopal (right) at the launch of 12 by 12 Initiative programme at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

NEW DELHI: "Iron deficiency anaemia is the commonest medical disorder in pregnancy, adversely affecting maternal and foetal health. Despite several national programmes targeting control and treatment of anaemia during pregnancy, the success has not been as anticipated," said Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Monday.

The Minister was speaking at the launch of a new 12 by 12 Initiative, targeting anaemia eradication during adolescence, at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.

Stating that the country faces the dual dilemma of under and over nourishment, the Minister asserted that his mission was to bring down the cases of mal-nourishment to zero in India.

"This latest programme launched with co-operation of several national and international agencies is the need of the hour. The programme should include a range of health-related issues concerning adolescents. Issues including health and nutrition education, capacity building, increasing iron intake, iron supplementation, control of infections are critical in safeguarding the well-being of adolescent population," added Dr. Ramadoss.

The 12 by 12 Initiative is a joint venture between the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other agencies including World Health Organisation and United Nation Children's Fund.

"The objective of the programme is to ensure that every child by the age of 12 years has a healthy haemoglobin level. Awareness and correction of iron deficiency anaemia during adolescence will go a long way in improving the health of the future parents. Anaemia is a silent epidemic but is a preventable condition. The initiative for controlling adolescent anaemia is an implement-able, effective and sustainable nation-building exercise with far-reaching benefits in terms of safe motherhood and healthier future generations," said Dr. Suneeta Mittal, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at AIIMS and chief co-ordinator for the programme.

Also present on the occasion were the AIIMS Director, Dr. P. Venugopal, Marzio Babille, Chief (Health) United Nations Children's Fund; and N. K. Ganguly, Director-General of the ICMR.

Dr. Venugopal said: "I am happy that my Institution has taken the leadership in this initiative and this is just the beginning of a nationwide movement, which needs to be carried forward. Children are not just the country's future but are also future parents."

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