Unrelenting burden of anaemia in India: Highlighting possible prevention strategies

The paper highlights the extent of the problem of anaemia, its associated causes along with the consequent effects on the overall health of the people as well as on the productivity of the nation. Different interventions implemented on country level scale as well as future lines of actions have been delineated. Anaemia is widely prevalent in India with over half of women and one-fourth of men suffer from anaemia. Anaemia directly causes 20 per cent of maternal deaths and indirectly accounts for another 20 per cent of maternal deaths. Nearly 79% of children aged 6–59 months are anemic. The estimated Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) per 100,000 were 450 for the year 2004. A multi-intervention approach is needed encompassing adequate nutritional intake through dietary supplementation, food fortification and dietary modification, along with reduction of concurrent infection. There should be strengthening of Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System (VMNIS) supported with firm political commitment.