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The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Nutrition bars to be given to adolescent girls to address anaemia
The Telangana government, on Thursday, launched a scheme to provide nutrition bars, made of peanuts and millets, to address anaemia among adolescent girls (14-18 years). Each bar consists of 600 calories, 18-20 grams of protein and necessary micronutrients. Anaemia can result in weakness, diminished physical and mental capacity, maternal mortality, increased morbidity from infectious diseases, perinatal mortality, premature delivery, low birth weight, and (in children) impaired cognitive performance, motor development, and scholastic achievement, according to National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 report. Women and Child Welfare Minister Danasari Anasuya launched the scheme titled Indiramma Amrutham on a pilot project basis, which would be implemented in Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Jayashankar Bhupalapally districts, where there are more cases of anaemia. The scheme was designed in consultation with the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN). It would benefit 50,269 girls: 23,399 in Bhadradri Kothagudem, 18,230 in Asifabad and 8,640 in Jayashankar Bhupalapally. Depending on the feedback, it would be extended to other districts. Two free packets would be given to each through Anganwadi centres, and each packet will have 15 nutrition bars. 'Anaemia is a condition that is marked by low levels of haemoglobin in blood. Iron deficiency is estimated to be responsible for about half of all anaemia globally, but anaemia can also be caused by malaria, hookworms and other helminths, other nutritional deficiencies, chronic infections, and genetic conditions,' according to the NFHS report. Prevalence in Telangana According to the report, 58% of women in Telangana have anaemia. It was particularly high among rural women, women aged 15-19, and Scheduled Tribe women. More than two-thirds (70%) of children aged 6-59 months are anaemic. Some parents consult dieticians with a complaint that though iron rich foods were given, the mineral is deficient in their children. Dietitian Shubhangi Surana, founder, Rainbow Nutrition Clinic in Secunderabad, said that what people have along with the foods plays a role in absorption of iron. 'Incorporate Vitamin C when eating Iron. It always helps. Lemon, Guava, Tamarind, Tomatoes - to an extent - are sources of vitamin C. Calcium is antagonist to iron. So avoid Calcium rich foods with iron,' said Ms. Surana. Abitha Chilkuri, dietician and nutritionist, said that coffee and tea with milk contains toxins that bind with dietary iron and make it unavailable for absorption. 'They should be avoided for at least an hour before, during or immediately after a meal,' she said. Ms. Surana said that Calcium (for bone development), Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Iodine, fiber are other nutritional requirements for the girls in the age group. In order to achieve optimum growth, bone mass, muscle mass and overall good health without any vitamin and mineral deficiencies and to improve longevity adolescents must consume food that is rich in calcium such as finger millet(ragi), green leafy vegetables like amaranth, sesame seeds, milk and milk products, said Ms. Abitha.
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
New scheme to curb anaemia in adolescent girls
HYDERABAD: With an objective to prevent anaemia among adolescent girls, the state government has decided to launch a new scheme, Indiramma Amrutam, under which millet and peanut chikkis (energy bars made with nuts and jaggery) will be distributed among girls aged between 14 to 18. Women & Child Welfare Minister Danasari Anasuya alias Seethakka will be launching this scheme in Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Thursday, Initially, the government will implement this scheme in Bhadradri-Kothagudem, Kumurambheem-Asifabad and Jayashankar-Bhupalpally districts on a pilot basis through Anganwadi centres. Under this scheme, the government will distribute 30 chikkis, in two instalments, per girl per month. Each chikki will contain 600 calories, 18 to 20 grams of protein and micronutrients. According to officials, the government decided to launch this scheme as 64.7 per cent of adolescent girls in Telangana are suffering from anaemia as per the National Family Health Survey-5. 'The government is already providing iron and folic acid tablets for girls after conducting Hb tests. Now, it has come out with a new scheme that will help in curbing anaemia among adolescent girls,' the officials added. Seethakka, meanwhile, asserted that Indiramma Amrutham scheme will become a game-changer for girls' health. 'Initially, this scheme will be implemented in three districts where the prevalence of anaemia is relatively high. It will be extended to other districts in the future,' she added.
