Iron-deficiency anemia has remained the top cause of disability in India for 10 years now. The result of poverty, malnutrition, poor sanitation and imbalanced vegetarian diet, widespread anemia has impacted the productivity of India’s workforce.

Disability in this context has a wider meaning; it means absence of good health. This includes factors such as mobility, self-care, participation in routine activities, pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression, and cognitive impairment.

Iron-deficiency anemia in India is rampant among children below the age of three (about 78.9%) and women (about 55%); men follow about 24%, according to the National Family Healthy Survey. The basic symptoms of this anemia are fatigue, weakness, lethargy, shortness of breath and decreased concentration. 

Anemia affects productivity.

Anaemia reduces the work capacity of individuals and entire populations, bringing serious economic consequences and obstacles to national development, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Anaemia has led to much loss in productivity among workers engaged in heavy physical labour and a much decrease in the output of moderately active workers, besides causing cognitive deficits in malnourished children, according study published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Effect of pregnant women & children’s IQ.

Effect of pregnant women & children’s IQ.India loses much of its gross domestic product (GDP) due to iron-deficiency anaemia. This can be up to billions or lakh crores rupees according to the World Bank’s estimate of India’s GDP.

Anemia mostly affects women and children, the impact of anaemia is best understood by looking at maternal deaths and school dropout rates.

Anaemia during pregnancy also increases the chances of foetal deaths, abnormalities, pre-term and underweight babies.

In children, iron-deficiency anaemia severely affects cognitive performance. It also impacts language skills, motor skills and coordination among infants and young children, and a deficit of five to 10 points in intelligence quotient (IQ). But these effects of iron deficiency in infancy cannot be correct by subsequent iron therapy.

Anaemia also impacts the immune system and increases chances of infections and inflammatory disease, further affecting individual productivity.

Factors responsible for Anemia in India.

The leading causes of anaemia in India are poverty, malnutrition, caste factors, cultural, social factors & poor sanitation. Frequent occurrences of malaria and worm infestations too result in high incidence of anaemia.

A vegetarian diet is also linked with iron-deficiency anaemia. Even though a vegetarian diet contains as much dietary iron as a non-vegetarian diet, research has shown that animal-based iron is better absorbed (15-40%) than plant-based iron (1-15%). To make up for the low absorption, large quantities of green leafy vegetables, pulses and nuts need to be consumed. But these are unaffordable for the poor.

Other causes & types are chronic diseases, frequent blood losses, vitamin B12 deficiency, aplastic anemia, bone marrow problem, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, etc.

Initiatives needed;

Health Education & Awareness

We do health education & awareness about anemia & related topics so that people should understand the problem & severity & know how to tackle this national health issue of their own. We use creative, ground level & advanced methods to educate people.

Anemia Detection & Treatment Camps

We organize anemia screening & detection camps though which we can know who people are anemic & needs treatment. We use portable blood testing equipment for outreach activities. The anemic cases are recorded & followed up for treatment from our organization or through government or other healthcare agencies.  

Nutritional Assessment, Supplement & Iron Supplement

For prevention of anemia we do area-wise or camp-wise nutritional assessment & provide nutritional as well as iron supplement to needy people. Then we also do follow up nutritional assessment to know the results & provide more supplements for needy people.