ANAEMIA

Dec. 31, 2020

Indian women and children are overwhelmingly anaemic, according to the National Family Health Survey 2019-20 released earlier this month, and the condition is the most prevalent in the Himalayan cold desert.

About:

  • Anaemia is the condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or quantity of haemoglobin.

  • It can make one feel tired, cold, dizzy, irritable and short of breath, among other symptoms.

  • A diet which does not contain enough iron, folic acid or vitamin B12 is a common cause of anaemia.

  • Some other conditions that may lead to anaemia include pregnancy, heavy periods, blood disorders or cancer, inherited disorders and infectious diseases.

Anaemia in our country:

  • In 15 of these 22 states and UTs, more than half the children are anaemic. Similarly, more than 50 per cent women are anaemic in 14 of these states and UTs.

  • The proportion of anaemic children and women is comparatively lower in Lakshadweep, Kerala, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, and higher in Ladakh, Gujarat, J&K, and West Bengal, among others.