Combating Anaemia with Double Fortified Salt

Exam-Focused Notes on Anaemia Mukt Bharat and Double Fortified Salt

Public Health Challenge:

• Anaemia in India affects over 50% of women and nearly 75% of children.
• It leads to maternal mortality, malnutrition, cognitive impairment, reduced productivity, and economic losses.

Government Initiative:

• The Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy is launched as a comprehensive approach including prevention, screening, treatment, dietary diversification, and behaviour change.
• It aims to combat the multifactorial nature of anaemia.

Key Intervention: Double Fortified Salt (DFS)

• DFS: Salt fortified with both iodine and iron.
• Daily consumption by virtually every household makes it a viable prevention tool against iron deficiency.
• Addresses compliance challenges of other interventions like iron supplementation.

Evidence and Success Rates:

• Global reviews indicate DFS can reduce anaemia prevalence by up to 21%.
• Trials in Bengaluru, Darjeeling, Punjab, and implementations in Uttar Pradesh show significant improvements in iron status with consumer acceptance.
• Cost-effective with an estimated annual cost of ₹14-₹20 per person, yielding a benefit-cost ratio of 4.2:1.

Government Policies and Guidelines:

• FSSAI has issued standards for DFS.
• DFS is mandated for inclusion in national programs:
  • PM POSHAN (midday meal scheme)
  • ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme)

Implementation Status and Challenges:

• DFS currently reaches about 76 million people through safety-net programs.
• Significant barriers to wider adoption are primarily institutional rather than technical.
• Essential for DFS to integrate into the Public Distribution System (PDS) to service around 800 million beneficiaries effectively.

Recommendations for Policy Commitment:

• Increased financing and quality assurance needed.
• Enhanced commercial availability and public awareness to facilitate geographical dissemination.
• DFS should complement ongoing strategies against anaemia and align with sodium reduction goals.

Regulatory Framework:

• Implementation must follow a robust regulatory framework to support the health initiatives.
• Continued monitoring for diseases like thalassaemia and sickle cell disease alongside DFS roll-out.

Overall Vision:

• The revised AMB strategy encourages a strengthened preventive health response towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
• India's past successes in universal iodization serve as a model for scaling up DFS, positioning India as a leader in global iron deficiency reduction efforts.

Conclusion:

The systematic approach underlined by the AMB strategy and the integration of DFS into health policies could significantly enhance the nutritional status of the Indian population, addressing a crucial public health concern effectively.