Poshan Maah 2024

Source- This post on Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024 has been created based on the article “Anemia : A key focus area during Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024“ published in “PIB” on 4th September 2024.

Why in News?

Recently, the 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024 was launched. Anemia is one of the major theme through which this year Poshan Maah is being celebrated.

About Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024

1. The 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024 was launched on August 31, 2024, at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

2. Mission Poshan 2.0 focuses on combating malnutrition among children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.

3. Key themes for this year’s Poshan Maah includes Anaemia, Growth Monitoring, Complementary Feeding,  Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (Nutrition Alongside Education)and Technology for Better Governance

4. A nationwide plantation drive, “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,” was held to promote both nutrition and environmental sustainability.

Anemia as a major focus for Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024

1. Anaemia is a major focus area, particularly affecting young children, adolescent girls, pregnant and postpartum women, and women of reproductive age.

2. Adolescence is highlighted as a crucial period for addressing nutritional deficiencies to prevent anemia’s intergenerational effects. Engaging adolescent girls is a key strategy to promote a malnutrition-free India, aligning with the Anemia Mukt Bharat program.

3. Over 35 crore sensitization activities were conducted during Poshan Maah 2023, with around 4 crore focused on anemia.

4. The initiative directly reached 69 lakh pregnant women, 43 lakh lactating mothers, and 22 lakh adolescent girls under the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG).

5. The program impacts over 10 crore beneficiaries nationwide through biannual nutrition-centric campaigns (Jan Andolans).

6. A special initiative in five Utkarsh Districts, in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, uses Ayurveda interventions (Drakshavleh and Punarnavamandoor) to improve nutritional status among adolescent girls.

About Anemia

1. About: Anemia is a condition with low red blood cell count or hemoglobin, leading to reduced oxygen supply to the body.

2. Types of Anemia

i) Iron-Deficiency Anemia: Caused by insufficient iron, often due to poor diet or blood loss.

ii) Vitamin-Deficiency Anemia: Due to lack of vitamins B12 or folate.

iii) Hemolytic Anemia: Red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are produced.

iv) Aplastic Anemia: Bone marrow fails to produce enough RBCs.

v) Sickle Cell Anemia: It is a genetic disorder causing abnormally shaped RBCs.

3. Symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

4. Causes: Nutritional deficiencies, chronic diseases, genetic disorders, or blood loss.

5. Treatment: Depends on the type. It may include dietary changes, supplements, medications, or procedures like blood transfusions.

Read more: Anaemia Mukt Bharat Programme

UPSC Syllabus: Governance