Union Health Minister JP Nadda to release new operational guidelines for Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
New Delhi, June 28
In a landmark step towards accelerating India's efforts to combat anaemia, Union Health Minister JP Nadda, will release the Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Operational Guidelines during the 16th Meeting of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare to be held on June 29 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The launch will mark a significant milestone in India's fight against anaemia as the programme transitions from Anaemia Mukt Bharat to Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, reflecting its evolution into a more comprehensive, people-centric and technology-enabled initiative, Health Ministry said.
The launch will also formalise the programme's transition, reflecting its evolution into a holistic approach that extends beyond iron supplementation to encompass testing, therapeutic management, eating right, digital tracking and community participation through Jan Chetna.
The guidelines will expand the existing 6x6x6 strategy into a 7x7x7 framework by introducing a seventh beneficiary group, a seventh intervention and a seventh institutional mechanism. Recognising the importance of addressing anaemia from the earliest stage of life, Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies (0-6 months) will be included as the seventh beneficiary group, the press release stated
The "Eating Right" approach, which will promote regular consumption of iron-rich and diversified diets as a daily habit, will be introduced as the seventh intervention, while a strengthened Monitoring and Evaluation framework supported by digital tracking will serve as the seventh institutional mechanism, ministry added.
A key feature of the Abhiyaan will be the transition from the T3 approach (Test, Treat, Talk) to the T4 approach (Test, Treat, Talk and Track). The revised strategy will emphasise intensified haemoglobin testing, treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in accordance with national anaemia management protocols, systematic tracking of beneficiaries for referral and follow-up, and targeted counselling to encourage healthy dietary practices, the release stated.
For the management of severe anaemia and non-responders among pregnant and lactating women, Intravenous Iron Therapy using Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM) and Iron Sucrose will be included as an important clinical intervention.
According to the release, the guidelines will also establish a robust digital ecosystem for monitoring anaemia services across beneficiary groups. Haemoglobin testing records for pregnant women will be mapped through the JANANI Portal, while records for children will be captured through the RBSK and U-WIN portals. These platforms will converge into a unified AMB Abhiyaan Portal, enabling comprehensive monitoring, analysis and evidence-based planning.
The release of the Operational Guidelines during the 16th CCHFW Meeting will reaffirm the Government's continued commitment to strengthening nutrition and maternal and child health and will further accelerate progress towards a healthier and Anaemia Mukt Bharat.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's good to see the focus on "Eating Right" and not just iron supplements. Dietary habits need a major overhaul in our country. But I hope they also address non-nutritional causes of anaemia like malaria and worm infestations, which are still rampant in many parts. Community participation via Jan Chetna should be emphasized more!
Finally, the government is taking a comprehensive approach. The T4 model (Test, Treat, Talk, Track) is much-needed. However, the logistics of administering IV Iron (FCM) in primary health centres will be challenging. Need trained staff and proper infrastructure. Let's hope this doesn't remain just another paper guideline.
As someone from a small town, I can tell you that anaemia is a huge issue especially among women and children. The local anganwadi workers are overburdened already. This new portal-based tracking might just add to their paperwork. The government must also invest in more health workers and better salaries for them.
Good to see a systems-level approach with monitoring and evaluation. But anaemia also has deep social determinants - poverty, lack of women's education, early marriage. Will this Abhiyaan address those root causes? We need a multi-sectoral response involving education and women's empowerment for lasting impact.
The focus on LBW babies is crucial - many of these children grow up with lifelong health issues. The IV Iron therapy for pregnant women with severe anaemia is a lifesaving intervention. But please ensure these expensive treatments are available free or at low cost in public hospitals. We have the guidelines
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