Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) - A MoHFW Initiative

Anemia Mukt Bharat is a public health scheme launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and UNICEF. This scheme aims to reduce anaemia in vulnerable sections of society, including women and children. Anaemia Mukt Bharat was first launched as National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme (NNAPP) in 1970 and relaunched in 2018.

Anemia Mukt Bharat is a strategic approach to tackling the crisis of anaemia in the country. This scheme is a part of the POSHAN Abhiyan that was launched in 2018. We have shared more details about this program here.

Anemia Mukt Bharat - Overview

Anaemia Mukt Bharat is a scheme launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with UNICEF. Recognizing the high cases of anemia in the country, this initiative aims to help the most vulnerable demographic to anemia, which are women and children.

Through Anemia Mukt Bharat, anaemia cases in the country dropped by 3% between 2018 and 2022. This program is currently targeting an estimated 450 million people across the country.

About Anaemia

Anaemia is a health condition in which the number of red blood cells in a person’s body are insufficient to meet their physiological requirement. The requirement of red blood cells in a human body differs based on sex, age, smoking habits, etc. of the person. Anaemia can have physical symptoms such as -

• Fatigue
• Drowsiness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Lack of concentration

In India, the cases of anaemia are especially high among children and women. Therefore, the government of India launched the Anemia Mukt Bharat program to tackle this ongoing crisis.

Anaemia Mukt Bharat - 666 Initiative

Anemia Mukt Bharat is divided into a 6X6X6 strategy, including 6 beneficiaries, 6 interventions, and 6 institutional mechanisms. This strategy aims to help the benefits of the program reach the target audience. We have shared the details about the 666 strategy below.

Anaemia Mukt Bharat - 6 Beneficiaries

1. Children(aged 6-59 months)
2. 10-19 years of aged Adolescent Girls and Boys
3. 5-9 years aged Children
4. Pregnant Women
5. Women of Reproductive Age (20-24 years)
6. Lactating Mothers (0-6 months of a child)

Anaemia Mukt Bharat - 6 Interventions

1. Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation
2. Behaviour Change Communication Campaign for a year
3. Digital Address of Anemia, including Care and Treatment
4. Deworming Initiatives
5. Addressing the Non-Nutritional Aspect of the Disease (in perspective of endemics)
6. Public Health Programs to incorporate Iron Folic Supplements in their initiatives.

Anaemia Mukt Bharat - 6 Institutional Mechanisms

1. National Anaemia Mukt Bharat Unit
2. Intra Ministerial Coordination
3. Convergence with other Ministries
4. Strengthening Supply Chain and Logistics
5. National Center of Excellence and Advanced Research on Anaemia
6. Anaemia Mukt Bharat Dashboard and Digital Portal (A One-Stop Shop for Anaemia)

Anemia Mukt Bharat - Similar Government Schemes

Through the Anaemia Mukt Bharat initiatives and other noteworthy government initiatives, India is taking a step forward to demolish the astonishing anaemia cases in the urban and rural sectors. With proper implementation, India will soon be known as a non-anaemic zone. Besides Anaemia Mukt Bharat, here are some other government initiatives to tackle the problem of anemia in the country -

1. Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) - This initiative is undertaken to counter unprecedented ammonia incidents in adolescent boys and girls. They are given weekly and mandatory Iron and Folic Acid tablets to counter anaemia in their body. The program ensures that the children ingest the supplementations while they are still at the site to avoid dispensing the tablets.
2. Health Management Information System and Mother-Child Tracking System - Such tracking initiative helps maintain the reporting of severe anaemic cases in mothers and children. Such an initiative amplifies its potential to recognise such casualties through its tracking system and get them under medical attention as soon as possible.
3. Universal Screening of Pregnant Women for Anaemia - Through this initiative, women visiting hospitals during their antenatal period are given iron and folic acid supplements as well as through outreaches at the Village Health & Nutrition Days (VHNDs).
4. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) - With medical officers present at the scene every 9th of each month during the antenatal period, mothers are to be examined for signs of anaemic symptoms and effects.
5. Blood Banks- Constant blood bank installations and updates to be maintained so emergency anaemic can be met instantly.

FAQs on Anaemia Mukt Bharat

Q1. What is Anaemia Mukt Bharat?

Anaemia Mukt Bharat is a government public health initiative launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in collaboration with UNICEF. Anemia Mukt Bharat scheme aims to reduce the number of people affected by anemia in the country, especially women and children.

Q2. What is the aim of Anaemia Mukt Bharat?

Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) aims to reduce anaemia in vulnerable sections of society, including women, children, and adolescents. This scheme was launched as part of the POSHAN Abhiyan in India and has reduced the prevalence of anemia by 3% between 2018 and 2022.

Q3. When was Anemia Mukt Bharat launched?

Anaemia Mukt Bharat was initially launched as National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme (NNAPP) in 1970. The scheme was relaunched in 2018 as Anemia Mukt Bharat. Since its relaunch, the scheme has led to a 3% reduction in anemia cases in India.

Q4. Who are the six beneficiaries of Anaemia Mukt Bharat?

The 6 Beneficiaries of Anaemia Mukt Bharat are Children(aged 6-59 months), 10-19 years of aged Adolescent Girls and Boys, 5-9 years aged Children, Pregnant Women, Women of Reproductive Age(20-24 years), and Lactating Mothers(0-6 months of a child).

Q5. What is 666 in Anaemia Mukt Bharat?

Anaemia Mukt Bharat uses a 666 strategy to counter the crisis of anemia in the country. According to the 666 strategy, there are 6 beneficiaries, 6 interventions, and 6 institutionalized mechanisms of the Anaemia Mukt Bharat initiative.