60 Percent Of Delhi College Girls Are Anaemic: Says Research

According to a database of the ongoing anaemia detection and awareness camps of Delhi Government, about 60 percent of Delhi college girls are anaemic and most were unaware of this. The fourth National Health Survey (NHS-4) has concluded that the national average of the anaemic women in India between 15 to 49 years of age is 53 percent while in Delhi it is 54.3 percent.

Key Takeaways:

• Database of the ongoing anaemia detection and awareness camps of Delhi Government revealed that 60 percent of Delhi college girls are anaemic.
• The fourth National Health Survey (NHS-4) has concluded that the national average of the anaemic women in India between 15 to 49 years of age is 53 percent while in Delhi it is 54.3 percent.
• Among 5,224 female students surveyed in 12 city colleges, 3, 128 (59.9 percent) were detected as anaemic and 94 were suffering from severe anaemia.

Though the findings are not public yet, according to The Hindu, the research has surveyed 5,224 female students in 12 city colleges. Among these women, 3, 128 (59.9 percent) were detected as anaemic and 94 were suffering from severe anaemia. The students were taken by shock after detected with anaemia because they could not notice any symptom or change in their body. While the national average of anaemia has reduced from 55.3 percent to 53 percent in NHS-3 and NHS-4 respectively, in Delhi it has increased from 44.3 percent to 55.3 percent.

Measures taken by the government

The shocking increase in the level of anaemia and that too among college girls has attracted the government’s attention. The government has been able to curb the alarming increase of dengue in Delhi. While the combating dengue is still on, the government has divided focus to help the anaemic students and improve the statistics of anaemia in Delhi.

The State Programme officer (adolescent health) Dr Gautam Singh has agreed to the alarming increase in the anaemia among college students in Delhi. He said that they are planning to distribute the IFA tablets in the colleges.

The State Programme officer (adolescent health) Dr Gautam Singh has agreed to the alarming increase in the anaemia among college students in Delhi. He said that they are planning to distribute the IFA tablets in the colleges.

The students who were detected anaemic were quickly referred to the nearest government hospital for immediate treatment. The health department has asked all the State Government-run hospitals to provide “out-of-queue treatment” to the students with severe anaemia.

Anaemia and its symptoms:

In medical terms anaemia refers to the condition of the body in which blood lacks the numbers of Red Blood cells or has dysfunctional RBCs. This curbs the flow of oxygen to the body organs and affects the physiological functioning of the body. Iron-deficiency is the most common cause of anaemia globally. Iron in the body helps in the formation of haemoglobin that carries the RBCs-the supplier of the oxygen- throughout the body.

However, other health conditions like folate, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin A deficiencies, chronic inflammation, parasitic infection and inherited disorder can also lead to anaemia.

The basic symptoms of anaemia are dizziness, fatigue, skin pallor, shortness of breath, light-headedness, palpitations, brittle nails and weakness.

The basic symptoms of anaemia are dizziness, fatigue, skin pallor, shortness of breath, light-headedness, palpitations, brittle nails and weakness.

SheThePeople.TV had a conversation with Delhi based nutritionist Kanika Arora about the increase in anaemic patients. She suggested a basic diet that can shoot up the level of iron in the body.

Why anaemia hits women?

Kanika Arora said that junk food consumption is higher in college girls which affect the nutrition balance of the body. Besides the improper routine - late-night studies, skipping breakfast or lunch and increased consumption of caffeine and junk food- adds to the imbalance caused in the body. When women menstruate, they lose a high amount of iron and haemoglobin and iron is important to increase the formation of haemoglobin. With the deficiency of iron in the body, the extra loss of haemoglobin during menstruation cannot be compensated. This ultimately leads to the conditions of anaemia.

The lifestyle full of stress and lack of attention towards the body is the reason why everyone, not only women, is being affected by morbid health conditions.

The lifestyle full of stress and lack of attention towards the body is the reason why everyone, not only women, is being affected by morbid health conditions.

The useful diets to increase the iron level in the body:

Sprouts in the morning with little salt and lemon on top are important at least once a day. Lemon will help in the absorption of the food. No caffeine or tea with any meal as it inhibits the absorption of the food.

Beetroot or mixed salad (with salt and lemon) should be taken every day, maybe carried for lunch. Beetroot also helps in the absorption of food in the body. Once a day, fruits like pomegranate should also be taken. Multigrain food like normal wheat atta mixed with ragi or chana flour should be used.

Breakfast is the essential meal of the day and it should not be missed. Good breakfast with protein is important for a healthy body. Rather than having junk food, it is a good practice to carry tiffins with homemade food.

Rudrani Kumari is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.

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