Economy : Health Sector Initiatives

Q 3 / 5

UPSC CSE Prelims 2023

Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy :

  1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women.
  2. It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of childbirth.
  3. It provides for periodic deworming to children and adolescents.
  4. It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

EXPLANATION

Correct Option

Statements 2, 3, and 4 are correct.

  • Statement 2: The Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy promotes delayed cord clamping (DCC) at the time of childbirth. This practice is crucial for increasing iron stores in infants, thereby contributing to the prevention of iron deficiency anaemia in early life.
  • Statement 3: Periodic deworming is an integral component of the AMB strategy. It targets children and adolescents (1-19 years) through bi-annual deworming campaigns under the National Deworming Day (NDD) program, as parasitic worm infections are a significant non-nutritional cause of anaemia.
  • Statement 4: The AMB strategy adopts a comprehensive approach by addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia. This includes focused interventions in endemic pockets for conditions such as malaria, hemoglobinopathies (e.g., thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia), and fluorosis, which are known contributors to the prevalence of anaemia.

Incorrect Options

  • Statement 1: The AMB strategy provides prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation, not calcium, for pre-school children, adolescents, pregnant women, and lactating women. Calcium supplementation is a separate nutritional intervention, not a primary component of the anaemia prevention strategy under AMB.
SOURCEThe Hindu/Indian Express 2023