Anemia Mukt Bharat
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Anemia Mukt Bharat program India 2025 update interventions
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Here is a detailed overview of the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) program:
Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB)
Launched: 2018 | Under: National Health Mission (NHM), as part of the Intensified National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) | Goal: Reduce anemia prevalence by 3% annually
Why It Was Needed
India carries one of the world's highest anemia burdens:
- 67.1% of children under 5 are anemic (NFHS-5)
- 59.1% of adolescent girls are anemic (NFHS-5)
- 3 in 4 Indian women have low dietary iron intake
- Anemia impairs cognitive development, school performance, work productivity, and increases maternal/infant mortality
The 6x6x6 Strategy
6 Beneficiary Groups (Life-Cycle Approach)
| # | Group |
|---|---|
| 1 | Children 6-59 months |
| 2 | Children 5-9 years |
| 3 | Adolescents (girls & boys) 10-19 years |
| 4 | Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 years) |
| 5 | Pregnant Women |
| 6 | Lactating Mothers |
6 Interventions
| # | Intervention | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prophylactic IFA Supplementation | Iron & Folic Acid tablets/syrups distributed to all 6 target groups at defined doses |
| 2 | Deworming | Albendazole administered biannually under National Deworming Day |
| 3 | Intensified Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) | "Solid Body, Smart Mind" campaign; promotes iron-rich diets, delayed cord clamping in newborns, early breastfeeding, proper IYCF practices |
| 4 | Testing using Digital Hemoglobinometers + Point-of-Care Treatment | Digital devices for Hb screening at community level; on-the-spot treatment for mild/moderate anemia |
| 5 | Mandatory IFA-Fortified Foods in Govt Programs | Wheat flour, rice, and other foods fortified with iron/folic acid in ICDS, MDM, PDS schemes |
| 6 | Addressing Non-Nutritional Causes | Targeted interventions in endemic pockets for malaria, hemoglobinopathies (sickle cell, thalassemia), and fluorosis |
6 Institutional Mechanisms
- Intra-Ministerial Co-ordination (AMB Steering Committee)
- National Anemia Mukt Bharat Unit
- National Centre of Excellence and Advanced Research on Anemia Control (NCEARCA)
- Convergence with other Ministries (WCD, Education, Food, etc.)
- State-level implementation units
- Digital tools for real-time tracking, supply chain, and reporting
IFA Dosing Schedule
| Beneficiary | Dose |
|---|---|
| Children 6-59 months | 1 ml syrup (20 mg elemental iron + 100 mcg folic acid) daily |
| Children 5-9 years | 1 tablet/week (45 mg iron + 400 mcg folic acid) |
| Adolescents 10-19 years | 1 tablet/week (IFA - weekly iron supplementation) |
| Pregnant Women | 1 tablet/day for 180 days (180 IFA tablets) |
| Lactating Women | 1 tablet/day for 180 days post delivery |
| Women of Reproductive Age | 1 tablet/week |
WHO Hemoglobin Cutoffs Used by AMB
| Population | Normal | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children 6-59 months | ≥11.0 g/dL | 10-10.9 | 7.0-9.9 | <7.0 |
| Children 5-11 years | ≥11.5 g/dL | 11.0-11.4 | 8.0-10.9 | <8.0 |
| Pregnant Women | ≥11.0 g/dL | 10.0-10.9 | 7.0-9.9 | <7.0 |
| Non-pregnant women (≥15 yrs) | ≥12.0 g/dL | 11.0-11.9 | 8.0-10.9 | <8.0 |
| Men (≥15 yrs) | ≥13.0 g/dL | 11.0-12.9 | 8.0-10.9 | <8.0 |
Recent Progress (2024-25)
- 15.4 crore children and adolescents received IFA supplements in Q2 FY 2024-25
- T4 App (Test, Treat, Talk & Track) launched for digital anemia management - real-time beneficiary tracking, Hb recording, inventory management, and IEC dissemination at community level
- Integration with POSHAN Abhiyaan and the School Health Program (Ayushman Bharat)
- AMB is governed under NHM's official guidelines
Key Challenges
- Compliance with weekly IFA tablets remains low (side effects, stigma)
- Supply chain gaps in remote areas
- Non-nutritional causes (malaria, hemoglobinopathies) require disease-specific co-management
- Systematic identification and follow-up of anemic individuals across diverse regions
AMB represents India's most comprehensive, life-cycle based approach to anemia control, combining supplementation, deworming, dietary diversification, fortification, and digital tracking within a single unified framework. The April 2025 PIB release provides the most current official update on the program's progress.
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