More than 50 per cent women and children in rural areas anaemic: Family Health Survey

NEW DELHI: More than fifty per cent of women and children in rural and tribal areas of the country are anaemic, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

According to National Family Health Survey-3, 2005-06, a total of 69.5 per cent of children and 55.3 per cent women are anaemic in rural and tribal areas respectively.

"In schedule tribes, 76.8 per cent of children and 68.5 per cent of women are anaemic and in rural parts it is 71 per cent children and 57.4 per cent women," Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

The minister said that government taken steps under National Health Mission to address anaemia in children and in pregnant and lactating women which includes National Iron Plus Initiative and universal screening of pregnant women for anaemia.

"During the Village Health Nutrition Days conducted in the Anganwadi Centers, various Information, Education and Communication activities are carried out for creating awareness generation among the beneficiaries and community as a whole.

To tackle the problem due to malaria particularly in pregnant women and children, long lasting insecticide nets and insecticide treated bed nets are distributed in endemic areas," Nadda said.