Experts say that 6-8 crore adolescent girls in India suffer from anemia due to iron deficiency.
At least 6-8 crore adolescent girls in India suffer from iron deficiency anemia, according to leading gynecologists in Ahmedabad, who also said that eradication of anemia is possible in a few years through more awareness and targeted initiatives.
“In India, anemia is one of the important causes of maternal mortality. When a pregnant woman is anemic, pregnancy-related complications increase.
Twenty to thirty per cent cases of maternal mortality are associated with anemia,” Dr. Alpesh Gandhi, former President of Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI), said.
Dr. Gandhi was addressing Haem Up India, an initiative of Cadila Pharmaceuticals aimed at creating awareness about iron deficiency, on the occasion of Iron Deficiency Day at Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad on 26 November.
He also said that iron deficiency anemia is a worldwide problem, but its magnitude in India is more than 50 percent of women and adolescent girls suffer from anemia. “Six to eight crore teenage girls in India are anemic at any one time,” he said.
In his remarks, Dr Darshan Thakkar attributed the change in food habits to high iron deficiency levels.
“The journey from bhakri to pizza and sukhdi to cake has not only resulted in iron deficiency, but other nutrients as well,” he said, emphasizing on a change in mindset to address iron deficiency and anemia. may help to do so.
According to a survey conducted by FOGSI last year, 92% of doctors believed that iron deficiency anemia could be eradicated in five years.
Professor Namrata Bajaj, Dean in-charge of the School of Economics and Management at Indrasheel University (IU), said, “The responsibility of educational institutions is not limited to teaching only, but to create awareness and contribute to a healthy India.
Healthy women are essential for a healthy India, and we all should work together for various campaigns.
I am sure that Cadila Pharmaceuticals and Indrasheel University are going to make a big difference in this work.
As a part of this initiative, the CSR team of Cadila Pharma had organized a screening camp for Anemia with Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anemia for women with IU.
Blood samples of 152 girl students were collected and tested for Thalassemia. An awareness program was conducted in partnership with the Indian Red Cross Society to share more information about Thalassemia and Anemia, their causes, and how one can deal with them.
“Through our initiative, we want to raise awareness among women especially young girls, as interventions are required at an early age.
Cadila has been fighting anemia for over 40 years and we are committed to finding better healthcare solutions and making affordable medicines available to all,” said Rajeev Saxena, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Cadila Pharmaceuticals.
Other prominent gynecologists like Dr. Vandana Amin, Dr. Parul Patel, Dr. Neeta Thackeray, Dr. Kamini Patel, and Dr. Sarada Devi Madalapu also addressed the audience and gave their insights on iron deficiency and ways to overcome it.
Several eminent gynecologists from across the country also shared awareness messages, which were circulated through social media.
All the expert participants signed the pledge to make India anemia free. The program ended with a musical performance.
Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited (www.cadilapharma.com) is one of the largest privately held pharmaceutical companies in India.
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