In a concerted effort to combat anaemia among adolescent girls, the Ayush and Women and Child Development ministries have entered into a pact to implement Ayurvedic interventions aimed at enhancing nutritional outcomes. Under the banner of Anaemia Control among Adolescent Girls Using Ayurveda Interventions under Mission Utkarsh, the initiative was officially launched in New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan in the presence of Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Smriti Irani.
The inaugural phase of the initiative will focus on addressing anaemia prevalence among adolescent girls aged 14-18 in five targeted districts: Dhubri (Assam), Bastar (Chhattisgarh), Paschimi Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), and Dhaulpur (Rajasthan). With an overarching goal to enhance the nutritional status of approximately 95,000 adolescent girls residing in districts grappling with high anaemia rates, the project will extend its reach across 10,000 Anganwadi Centres within these regions.
Sonowal highlighted the Centrally-sponsored Mission Utkarsh’s objective to elevate the targeted districts to the national average in terms of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Irani underscored the potential of Ayush systems in delivering cost-effective solutions for anaemia, citing supportive evidence from esteemed institutions such as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Ayush Ministry Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha elucidated on the adverse effects of anaemia on adolescents, stressing the pivotal role of traditional medicine systems in fortifying primary healthcare infrastructure.
Women and Child Development Ministry Secretary Indewar Pandey reiterated its commitment to combating malnutrition among children, adolescent girls, and pregnant women. He highlighted existing schemes such as the Saksham Aanganbaadi and Poshan Scheme, which are bolstered by nearly 13.97 lakh Aanganwadi centres nationwide. Pandey accentuated the importance of prioritising the health of adolescent girls aged 14 to 18, acknowledging their profound impact on future generations’ wellbeing.
Furthermore, the collaboration between Ayush and the Women and Child Development Ministry has yielded significant results with over 2.7 crore Ayush-based activities conducted under Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada. Additionally, the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has spearheaded public health initiatives, including a national campaign on anaemia control through Ayurveda, spanning 323 health centres across 13 States. A multi-level operational study conducted in the Gadchiroli District assessed the efficacy of Ayurvedic interventions for ante-natal care, with improvements in haemoglobin levels serving as a metric for success.
At a recent event, notable dignitaries including CCRAS Director General Professor Ravi Narayan Acharya and WHO’s Pushpa Chaudhary alongside ICMR Director General Dr Rajeev Bahl reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative efforts in addressing anaemia and promoting adolescent health.
