22 September 2010
Chennai, India
National health survey finds 72% of kids in TN anaemic
The incidence of anaemia among children in the age group of six to 35 months in Tamil Nadu has gone up from 69% in 1998–99 to 72.7% in 2005–06 according to statistics from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS).
Speaking at a national workshop organised by Heinz Nutrition Foundation India on sensitisation of multi–micro nutrient fortification to combat anaemia here on Tuesday, director of public health R T Porkai Pandian said several initiatives were in place to check anaemia. This includes the Vitamin A prophylaxis programme, anaemia control programme for pregnant women, adolescent anaemia control programme, national iodine deficiency disorder control programme, deworming for children and adolescents and supplementary nutritional programmes.
The state also aims to reduce its mortality rate under five years from 36 to 28 (in line with the Millennium Development Goals) as part of its target under the 11th five–year plan.
Authorities from the health department have made some headway in this regard by increasing the rate of institutional deliveries by 98% and bringing down domiciliary deliveries to 2%. This has also been brought about by PHCs being allowed to carry out caesarian deliveries.
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