PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Health department has launched a comprehensive campaign aimed at preventing anaemia and enhancing nutrition in Dehradun district under Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan initiated by National Health Mission. This campaign officially began on March 7 and will run until April 7. Officials reported that during this campaign, diagnosed anaemia patients, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children aged between six to 59 months in the district will receive free iron folic acid tablets and syrup. Referred patients will have access to necessary treatments at no cost at higher medical facilities.
Moreover, Anganwadi workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) will identify women and children with anaemia in their communities. Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers will raise awareness about the campaign at the community levels and educate eligible beneficiaries through meetings and camps, they added.
The official also said that representatives of Panchayati Raj and members of the civil society will participate in this drive.
The Dehradun chief medical officer (CMO), Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma said that the main aim of the campaign in the district is to detect women and children affected by anemia so they can receive the necessary tests and treatments. For those with severe cases, referrals will be made to higher medical facilities for complementary treatment, he said and added that the campaign is being implemented at the community level in coordination with medical units.
The additional chief medical officer (ACMO) of NHM, Dr Bimalesh Joshi provided details, stating that the goal is to administer IFA syrup to over 185,024 children within the district. Further, the target includes delivering IFA doses to 29,532 pregnant women and 17,719 lactating women. Health workers, along with ASHA and Anganwadi workers, have been adequately trained at the community level to support this campaign. “IFA tablets and syrup have been made available in required quantities to the health centres, too,” he said.
