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IMA mission aims to make state anaemia-free
With an aim of checking anaemia among women and adolescents in the state, the national programme of the Indian Medical Association, ‘Mission Pink Health’, has now been introduced in Tamil Nadu.
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Chennai
The programme would focus on educating girls between the age of 10 and 19 years on the importance of nutrition and menstrual hygiene.
“We will also create awareness on the requirements and behavioural changes and educate them on methods to detect and treat anaemia,” said Dr L Yesodha, state vice-president, IMA. She said the state chapter would work with schools, especially government schools, to detect the condition.
Stressing that poor sanitation was one of the major causes for anaemia, Dr K Kolandaisamy, director, Department of Public Health, said, “The state is conducting the National Anaemia Control Programme and is keen on ensuring improvement of sanitation practices in rural areas.”
Anaemia is a major public health concern and efforts must be made to bring about a change among the adolescents first, asserted Dr Shaanthy Gunasingh, director, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (IOG).
Pointing out that adolescence is a significant period of human growth, she said, “The iron needs are high during the adolescence period, especially in the case of girls, because of the increased requirements for expansion of blood volume associated with the adolescent growth spurt and the onset of menstruation,” she said.
Despite a variety of interventions, the burden continues to be very high. Therefore, experts including gynaecologists and obstetricians, gathered to address the challenges and discuss solutions to make Tamil Nadu anaemia-free.
“Iron Deficiency Anaemia is one of the most common health issues among women in Tamil Nadu. It is a condition characterised by a lack of healthy red blood cells. If not diagnosed and treated at the right time, it can impair quality of life, organ function, cognitive function and decrease the overall survival rate,” said Dr Jaishree Gajaraj, senior consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Apollo Hospital.
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