Video: The testing & awareness campaign advancing Anemia Mukt Bharat in Kondagaon, Chhattisgarh, India

Under the leadership of the national government; Anemia Mukt Bharat was launched in 2018. Since then, state and district administrative bodies have been playing a pivotal role in implementing the programme on-ground. This dedication and leadership on part of the state and district administration is crucial in providing consistent treatment and testing for anaemia. The video above presents an exemplary case from Kondagaon, one of the aspirational districts of Chhattisgarh, in advancing the Government of India’s AMB programme. 

To combat the high prevalence of anaemia, the Anemia Mukt Kondagaon initiative was launched in September 2022, with the aim to test haemoglobin levels of all adolescent girls and women aged 15 to 49 years for anaemia detection. In a mere six months, the initiative resulted in a 68 per cent reduction in anaemia levels amongst women and girls. Additionally, the percentage of mild anaemia decreased from 3.5 percent to 0.4 percent. 

Implemented by the District Departments of Health, Women & Child Development Department and Panchayat with support from UNICEF and Nutrition International, the initiative follows a 'test, treat, talk' model. Moreover, as a complementary strategy to haemoglobin testing, the Kondagaon district administration also initiated a robust campaign ‘Neeli Goli Khayi kya’ (Have you eaten the blue tablet?) to promote the consumption of Blue Iron Folic Acid (IFA), especially among school-going students. The ongoing initiative emphasizes digital haemoglobin testing, treatment, and follow-up, coupled with community participation and real-time monitoring.