Pilot project to eliminate anaemia to be launched in Gurugram next month

GURUGRAM: As part of a pilot project to eliminate anaemia, the health department will screen all adolescents and women of reproductive age (15-49 years) for iron deficiency in a rural area of Gurugram, either in Pataudi or Sohna, from June. Those diagnosed with mild, moderate and severe anaemia will get treatment with iron-folic acid supplements and counselling such as encouragement to have nutritious food.
Tthey will also be regularly monitored over a year to understand the trend and prevalence of anaemia and whether the supplements work. If successful, the project would get replicated across Haryana.
The project comes on the heels of a state-wide survey to assess the prevalence of anaemia in May first week. Nishant Kumar Yadav, the deputy commissioner of Gurugram, said, "Gurugram carried out a total of 1 lakh tests for anaemia from May 1-7, the highest number of tests conducted by a district during that week. Currently, we are in the process of choosing a rural area where women will be screened and given iron supplements to check prevalence of anaemia and if supplements solve the issue."
The district administration will rope in a private firm for financial aid required for the project. Dr Virender Yadav, the chief medical officer of Gurugram, said, "We are finalising the area to be part of the pilot project. Anaemia is a cause of concern in Gurugram. According to our seven-day survey in May first week, nearly 56% of people in the city are anaemic."
Anaemia is a condition in which a lack of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood cells leads to reduced oxygen flow to organs. Iron deficiency is the most common cause. According to doctors, children, adolescents, women of reproductive age and pregnant women are at a higher risk of anaemia. Maternal anaemia is associated with poor birth outcomes such as an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, etc. A 2020-21 National Family and Healthcare survey found that 60.6% of women of reproductive age in Haryana have a high iron deficiency.