Need for radical reform for tackling anaemia: Govt

Acknowledging the need for "radical reform" in the implementation of schemes aimed at tackling the prevalence of anaemia among women and children, Government today said it would hold a meeting of its national council in this regard.
Replying to a question by Rajani Patil (Congress)about the prevalence of anaemia and mineral deficienices among women, the Health minister said the government is actively monitoring the implementation of programmes and schemes to redress the issue.
Harshvardhan admitted that despite the presence of schemes, the prevalence of anaemia among women and children is there and "there is a need for radical reform in the implementation process".

He said it is a "very very sensitive issue" and promised that the government will make effors so that the situation improves.
He was responding to questions on whether a large number of people especially women and children are anaemic and suffering from mineral deficiencies in rural and tribal areas and steps taken by the government to reduce mineral deficiency related diseases.
The minister said in his written statement that 69.5 per cent of under-five children and 55.3 per cent of women in reproductive age were anaemic as per the national family health survey in 2005-06.

He said the prevalence of anaemia among tribal children between six and 59 months was 76.8 percent. It was 71.5 per cent in rural area specifically.

Among the women in the age group between 15 and 49 years, 68.5 percent were found anaemic which was 57.4 per cent in rural areas.
According to the data, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Chhattisgarh were top five states regarding prevalence of anaemia among both women and children.