š©ø Indiaās Anaemia Crisis: Why Iron Supplements Alone Arenāt Enough!š
- MediaFx
- Mar 28
- 1 min read
TL;DR:Ā India's fight against anaemia is far from over, as iron supplements and fortified rice alone arenāt solving the problem. Experts say other causes like vitamin deficiencies, chronic diseases, air pollution, and genetic conditions are being ignored. A new approach focusing on root causes is essential.
India's Anaemia Mukt BharatĀ programme, launched in 2018, mainly focuses on iron and folic acid supplementation. But guess what? šāāļø Studies now show that iron deficiency causes only a third of anaemia cases. The remaining cases? They're linked to vitamin deficiencies (like B12 and folic acid), chronic illnessesĀ (like kidney disease), air pollution, and even genetic conditions. š²
A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical NutritionĀ found that most anaemia cases in India have complex causes. Thatās why just popping iron pills isnāt enough. Instead, we need a balanced approach, including:
š½ Better dietary diversification.
š Identifying underlying health conditions.
š Raising awareness about real causes of anaemia.
š± Focusing on proper absorption of iron and nutrients.
The governmentās current strategy of universal fortificationĀ is also criticized because it doesnāt work for everyone and can have side effects. š
š¢ MediaFx Opinion:
Instead of just flooding poor communities with iron pills, the government needs to address the real causes of anaemia, including providing affordable healthcare for chronic diseases and fighting air pollution. Policies must be designed for the working class, not just the privileged. šŖ
