SYLLABUS

GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health and Human Resources.

Context: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Abhiyaan Operational Guidelines (2026), transforming the programme into a more comprehensive, technology-enabled, and community-driven initiative to accelerate India's fight against anaemia.

Key Highlights of the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Abhiyaan Guidelines

• Transition to Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: The programme has evolved from Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) to Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, adopting a holistic life-cycle approach.
  • Expands focus beyond iron supplementation to include testing, therapeutic management, healthy diets, digital tracking and community participation (Jan Chetna).
• 7×7×7 Strategy: The existing 6×6×6 strategy has been expanded into a 7×7×7 framework by adding:
  • 7^th Beneficiary Group: Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies (0–6 months).
  • 7^th Intervention: "Eating Right" initiative promoting regular consumption of iron-rich and diversified diets.
  • 7^th Institutional Mechanism: Strengthened Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) supported through digital tracking.
• Shift from T3 to T4 Strategy: The programme replaces the T3 approach (Test, Treat, Talk) with T4 (Test, Treat, Talk and Track).
  • The revised strategy emphasizes regular haemoglobin testing, protocol-based treatment, systematic referral and follow-up, and counselling on healthy dietary practices.
• Management of Severe Anaemia: For pregnant and lactating women with severe anaemia or non-response to oral iron therapy:
  • Intravenous Iron Therapy using Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM) and Iron Sucrose.
• Digital Monitoring Ecosystem: The programme establishes an integrated digital ecosystem:
  • JANANI Portal – Pregnant women.
  • RBSK Portal – Children.
  • U-WIN Portal – Child immunisation and beneficiary records.
  • These platforms will converge into a Unified AMB Abhiyaan Portal for monitoring, analysis, and evidence-based planning.

About Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB)

• Launched in 2018under the National Health Mission (NHM).
• Implemented under the National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) using a life-cycle approach.
• Objective: To reduce the prevalence of anaemia by addressing both nutritional and non-nutritional causes across vulnerable population groups.

• Related Programmes:
  • National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI)
  • Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS)
  • National Deworming Day (10 February & 10 August)

About Anaemia

• Anaemia is a condition in which the haemoglobin level in the blood is lower than normal, reducing the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) defines anaemia as a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal. It mainly affects women and children.
• Causes: Iron deficiency (most common), folate deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Vitamin A deficiency, infections, worm infestations, genetic blood disorders (e.g., Sickle Cell Disease, Thalassemia), and poor dietary diversity.
• Symptoms: Fatigue and weakness, dizziness, headache, shortness of breath, reduced physical work capacity, and cold hands and feet.
• Vulnerable Groups: Children under 5 years, Low Birth Weight (LBW) infants, adolescent girls, women of reproductive age, and pregnant and lactating women.
• Impact: Impaired cognitive and motor development in children, reduced learning ability and productivity, poor maternal health, increased risk of premature birth, Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies, and higher maternal and perinatal mortality.
• Prevention: Iron-rich and diversified diet, Iron-Folic Acid supplementation, deworming, timely haemoglobin testing, treatment of underlying causes, and nutrition counselling and healthy dietary practices.