Anaemia remains persistent challenge in Odisha despite nutrition initiatives

Bhubaneswar, Jan 2: Despite ongoing efforts to improve nutrition levels among children and women, anaemia continues to be a significant health concern in Odisha. 

According to a recent survey conducted between April and September 2024, the overall prevalence of anaemia in the state stands at 47.7%, showing a slight increase from 46.7% in 2023.

While there has been a marked improvement in other nutrition indicators, such as reductions in stunting and the number of underweight children, the stagnation in anaemia rates raises alarms. 

The survey revealed that 41.5% of children aged 6-59 months are affected by anaemia, and adolescent girls experienced a small rise in anaemia levels, increasing from 41.6% in 2023 to 42.2% in 2024. Furthermore, anaemia rates among pregnant women and lactating mothers have remained largely unchanged.

Public health experts are calling for a more targeted and decentralized approach to effectively address anaemia, especially among vulnerable populations. 

While the launch of Mission Poshan 2.0 has led to notable improvements in overall nutrition, experts argue that additional focused interventions are necessary to tackle anaemia, which remains a persistent challenge, particularly in rural areas.

The state government’s continued efforts to combat malnutrition and improve public health will need to prioritize iron deficiency and other causes of anaemia to make meaningful progress in addressing this longstanding issue.