“Mission Utkarsh”: Ayurvedic Initiative Targets Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls in Five Districts
Desk Report, February 26, 2024: In a significant step toward improving girls’ health, Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Smriti Irani witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministries of Ayush and Women & Child Development. The ceremony, held to launch a Joint Public Health Initiative for Anaemia control among adolescent girls, identified Dhubri, Assam, as a key district for this collaborative effort.
Approximately 94,000 anaemic girls across five districts, including Dhubri, are set to benefit from this initiative, emphasizing Ayurvedic interventions. The agreement, part of “Mission Utkarsh,” was signed to address the prevalent issue of anaemia in poor-performing districts, including Bastar in Chhattisgarh, West Singbhuma in Jharkhand, Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, and Dhaulpur in Rajasthan. These districts, with an average anaemia prevalence of 69.5%, were selected based on malnutrition indicators, particularly nutritional anaemia in women of reproductive age.
The collaborative effort aims to empower women and children by enhancing nutritional outcomes. Covering around 10,000 Anganwadi centers in the five districts, the initiative focuses on promoting wellness through yoga protocols, fostering diet diversity, and addressing anaemia prevention in adolescent girls.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted the significance of “Mission Utkarsh” and the government’s commitment to achieving key health performance indicators in aspirational districts. The initiative leverages evidence-based Ayurveda interventions to address the menace of anaemia prevalent among adolescent girls in the identified districts.
This joint effort also integrates initiatives like Poshan Vatikas and Ayurveda interventions to ensure access to nutritious food and promote healthy lifestyles. Since 2018, the Ministries of Ayush and Women & Child Development have collaboratively worked under the POSHAN Abhiyaan framework, yielding profound benefits for the nation’s health and nutrition landscape.
Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized the government’s dedication, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, to creating healthcare solutions for a healthier and better-quality life for the people of the country. Addressing health issues like anaemia through Ayurvedic medicine is a crucial part of achieving the vision of a Swastha Bharat.
The MoU signing ceremony, attended by dignitaries including Secretaries from both ministries, the Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research, and officials from the identified districts, marks a pivotal step towards holistic healthcare solutions and improved well-being for girls in these regions.
