Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and members from media met today to discuss the importance of Weekly Iron and Folic Acid (WIFS) Supplementation programme which is currently reaching out to 13 crore school-going girls and boys (class VI – XII) and out-of-school adolescent girls. Iron deficiency is the major cause of anaemia that leads to reduced levels of haemoglobin (Hb) in the blood.
Adolescents (age 10-19 years), especially girls, are at high risk of iron deficiency and anaemia due to accelerated increase in requirements for iron, poor dietary intake of iron, malaria and worm infestation. Public health experts also attribute social and cultural factors such as early marriage, adolescent pregnancy and repeated pregnancies that make girls more vulnerable to iron deficiency and anaemia.
An estimated56 per cent girls and 30 per cent boys in the age group 10-19 years in India are anaemic according to the third National Family Health Survey.
Considering the alarming situation, the Government of India is implementing the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) Supplementation (WIFS) programme since January 2013, under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in government/ aided and municipal schools (nationwide) and Anganwadi Centres across all states in India.
“Anaemia is a grave public health problem in India that has multifaceted adverse impact on human beings. It affects the cognitive performance, behaviour and physical growth of infants,pre-school and school going children. In adolescents, it affects physical growth, weakens cognitive development, reduces energy levels and work capacity”, said Mr Keshav Desiraju, Secretary Health and Family Welfare, addressing the media. “In pregnant women, it enhances the risk of pre-term delivery and babies with low birth weight, especially in teenage pregnancies.Children of mothers who are severely anaemic are seven times as likely to become severely anaemic as compared to children of mothers who are not anaemic,thus perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of anaemia,” she added.
Ms. Anuradha Gupta, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, NRHM said that “A multi-pronged approach is required to prevent and correct both iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia. This includes measures to improve iron intake through food-based approaches such as dietary diversification and food fortification, iron supplementation as well as improved health services and sanitation. In a scenario such as India, where it is difficult to influence dietary behavior dueto widely varying food preferences and cultural practices, the first step towards addressing iron deficiency would be the implementation and scaling up of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) Supplementation programme and management of all forms of Iron Deficiency Anemia”.
”Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) is an evidence based programme for addressing Iron Deficiency Anaemia which is both safe and effective. The miniscule number of cases where some adolescents have had some minor side-effects should not act as a deterrent to this very important public health initiative”, said Mrs Gupta while responding to questions onside-effects.
World Health Organization also recommends weekly iron-folic acid supplementation for adolescents to build iron stores in the body.
The drive to combat adolescent anaemia includes – bi-annual (February and August) administration of Albendazole tablets to remove worm infections; weekly(Monday), supervised administration of IFA tablets (100 mg of elemental iron and 500 mg of folic acid); screening for moderate/severe anaemia and referral to nearest health facility;and, monthly nutrition and health education to encourage consumption of locally available iron-rich food.
“The WIFS programme targets both rural and urban areas. The programme provides a strategic focus on reducing adolescent anemia by not only improving physical capacity and increasing cognitive ability but also promotes improved pregnancy outcomes among girls and larger inter-generational benefits. The programme truly accentuates the spirit of ‘Solid Bano India’ campaign”, said Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Joint Secretary (RCH).
Public health experts including Dr. HPS Sachdev,Dr. Sheila Vir from Public Health and Nutrition Centre, Dr. Umesh Kapil from AIIMS and Dr. Vani Sethi from UNICEF also shared insights on the IFA tablets and WIFS programme. They explained “when iron tablet is taken for the first time, the body may find it little difficult to digest and symptoms such as stomach ache and nausea may occur. However, if taken after food, the absorption will be little low but stomach ache and nausea will not occur. These side effects will eventually disappear once the tablet is regularly taken for a few weeks as the body adjusts to the iron tablets. Hard stools after consuming iron-folic acid tablet are harmless. The body takes the iron it needs and the extra iron is removed through faeces. To reduce side affects IFA tablets should be taken on full stomach. Taking any vitamin or nutrient is never restricted during an illness. In fact, it helps speedy recovery from illness by improving immunity of the body. Iron folic acid tablet can betaken during illness and even during menstruation.”
The event provided members of the media to engage with experts on the importance of IFA supplementation and the role of media incombating adolescent anaemia. Current data shows that slow release ferroussulphate preparations remain the established and standard treatment of irondeficiency, irrespective of the indications, given their good bioavailability, efficacy and acceptable tolerability demonstrated in several large clinicalstudies. Weekly supplementation with iron and folic acid in menstruating women hasbeen successfully implemented using different mechanisms in several countries(including Cambodia, Egypt, Laos, Philippines and Vietnam). Key program implementation issues such as training of teachers/functionaries and monitoringof the WIFS programme were discussed. There is renewed emphasis on training with special reference to supervised ingestion which ensures correct method of IFA tabletintake - not taken on an empty stomach and administered with a glass of waterrather than being chewed or given in a crushed form.
Nutritionists also discussed severalhome-based and easily available solutions to keep anaemia away. These includedeasily available food such as spinach (palak,methi), dates (khajur), meat, fish, eggs andvitamin C rich foods (citrus fruits like Amla, Guava, Lemon). Overall, thediscussions stressed on the need to focus on how the programme will contributeto the physical and cognitive development of adolescents.
Its not only phones that improve your lifestyle .Other things can a make a difference too.........Iron board manufacturer in India & Household product manufacturer in India
ReplyDelete