Anaemia Control among Adolescent Girls using Ayurveda – Mission Utkarsh Initiative

Context

The Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Women and Child Development have collaborated to improve the nutrition of adolescent girls using Ayurveda. This joint effort aims to address anaemia in five districts through a public health initiative.

Anaemia among Adolescent Girls-Facts

• Many studies conducted in the states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have detected high presence of anaemia among the younger people in India.
• The degree of effect on individuals comprises people with mild to moderately severe anaemia.
• What impresses me most is that the number of girls with anaemia, especially the most severe cases, is higher than that of boys.
• These symptoms would probably emerge as they undertake the physical changes during puberty.
• Other causes like bad schooling and poverty can be said to as well support the high anaemia rate among youth.
• In a similar way, the diet of youngsters who belong to a richer background is more healthful, lowering the chances of anaemia even more.

About Anaemia and why it occurs

• The iron in the haemoglobin of the red blood cells is needed for carrying oxygen, but in cases of anaemia the red blood cells may have an abnormally low level of haemoglobin with a correspondingly reduced number of red blood cells.
• When the body does not have enough red blood cells, it is hard for the body to transport oxygen right around its systems. 
• Therefore oxygen falling short is realised by the body, hence tiredness and breathlessness.
• The primary contributor to anaemia is a deficiency of iron in the blood or other diseases that affect the amount of red blood cells.
• Anaemias that are counted among them are Sickle-Cell Anaemia and Thalassaemia.

Impact of Anaemia on overall health of a person, and on a country

• Anaemia is a serious health issue that can result in sickness and death, especially in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and young children. 
• Iron deficiency Anaemia can decrease a person’s ability to work, leading to significant economic losses on a national level.

A NFHS statistics of India’s Anaemia misery

• The Indian government has recognized anaemia as a significant public health issue and has introduced Mission Utkarsh to specifically address this problem in adolescent girls aged 14-18 years.

Key aspects of the Mission Utkarsh Project

• This commendable initiative by the government of India is set to elevate the most underdeveloped states to a level that surpasses the socio-economic indicators limit, enabling growth and progress. 
• When we refer to these backward states, we are highlighting regions with abysmally poor living standards, a lack of basic infrastructure, and inadequate access to essential health services. 
• The government of India has initiated a remarkable effort known as the Mission Utkarsh Project, aimed at uplifting the districts at the lowest level to the state or national level. 
• To achieve this, fifteen central ministries and departments are working collaboratively on this mission. 
• As a pilot project, the initiative will be launched in five aspirational districts across five states. 
• The primary goal of this project is to improve the nutrition of approximately 95,000 adolescent girls. Below are the list of such states:

(1)   Assam (Dhubri)

(2)   Jharkhand (Paschimi Singhbhum))

(3)   Rajasthan (Dhaulpur)

(4)   Chhattisgarh (Bastar)

(5)   Maharashtra (Gadchiroli)

Conclusion

• The collaboration between the Ministries of Ayush and Women and Child Development in utilising Ayurveda interventions to combat anaemia among adolescent girls is an important measure in addressing this widespread health problem. 
• Successfully managing anaemia not only enhances personal well-being but also has wider social and economic implications, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive approaches to eliminate anaemia in our nation.

Source: PIB

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q.Critically analyse the impact of the Anaemia in the socio-economic condition of a vulnerable state and outline the govt initiative in various states and its outcome so far. 

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