Mission Utkarsh – Initiative for Anaemia Control among adolescent girls using Ayurveda interventions

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is Anaemia?
• India’s anaemia burden
• News Summary: Mission Utkarsh – Initiative for Anaemia Control among adolescent girls using Ayurveda interventions
• Key highlights of Mission Utkarsh

Why in news?

• Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Women and Child Development have signed a MoU for the nutritional improvement in adolescent girls through Ayurveda Interventions.
• It will be a Joint Public Health Initiative for Anaemia Control among adolescent girls using Ayurveda interventions in the five districts under Mission Utkarsh.

What is Anaemia?

• About
  • According to the WHO, anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal.
  • Haemoglobin is needed to carry oxygen.
  • If there are too few red blood cells, or not enough haemoglobin, there will be a decreased capacity of the blood to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues.
  • This results in symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath among others.
• Factors
  • The most common nutritional cause of anaemia is iron deficiency although deficiencies in folate, vitamins B12 and A are also important causes.
  • Certain chronic diseases, such as kidney disease, liver disease, cancer, or autoimmune disorders, can interfere with the production of red blood cells.
  • Inherited conditions, such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia, affect the structure or function of red blood cells, leading to chronic anemia.
• Why should there be focus on Anaemia?
  • Impact on morbidity and morality
    • Anaemia is related to morbidity and mortality in the population groups usually considered to be the most vulnerable — pregnant women and children under five.
  • Effect on reproductive health
    • A prevalence study on anaemia is useful to monitor the progress of reproductive health.
  • Impact on economy
    • Iron-deficiency anaemia reduces the work capacity of individuals and entire populations.

India’s anaemia burden

• India’s anaemia burden has grown alarmingly with NFHS-5 (2019-21) finding that:
  • 57% of women in the age group 15-49 and 67% children between six months and 59 months are anaemic (from the corresponding 53% and 58.6% respectively in NFHS-4 (2015-16)).
• The Health Ministry has noted that anaemia is a public health challenge.

News Summary: Mission Utkarsh – Initiative for Anaemia Control among adolescent girls using Ayurveda interventions

• The Centre launched an initiative to improve nutrition in adolescent girls (14-18 years) using Ayurveda.

Key highlights of Mission Utkarsh

• 15 central ministries or departments to work together
  • To elevate districts at the bottom, to state and national averages.
• To be launched in five aspirational districts
  • Initially, it would be launched in five aspirational districts (of five states) first as a pilot project.
    • Aspirational Districts are a part of a developmental initiative introduced by the Government of India.
    • The program aims to transform the most underdeveloped districts of the country by focusing on improving their socio-economic indicators.
    • These districts, often characterized by high poverty rates, lack of basic infrastructure, and limited access to essential services.
  • These are:
    • Assam (Dhubri), Chhattisgarh (Bastar), Jharkhand (Paschimi Singhbhum), Maharashtra (Gadchiroli), and Rajasthan (Dhaulpur)
• Target group
  • The aim is nutritional improvement among approximately 95,000 adolescent girls in anaemia prone districts.

Q1) What is World Health Organization (WHO)?

Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health.

Q2) What are Aspirational Districts?

Aspirational Districts are a part of a developmental initiative introduced by the Government of India. The program aims to transform the most underdeveloped districts of the country by focusing on improving their socio-economic indicators. These districts, often characterized by high poverty rates, lack of basic infrastructure, and limited access to essential services.

Source: Central project aims to control anaemia in girls using Ayurveda | PIB | The Hindu

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