Define Supplementation to prevention of iron deficiency anaemia?
Supplementation with low doses of iron is necessary to prevent anaemia in particular groups of people. Fortified foods and a good diet are not enough if a person is iron deficient and anaemic. Consumption of supplement in the form of pills and syrup will raise iron levels and normalize a person's iron stores. Thereafter, dietary improvement and consumption of fortified foods will prevent iron deficiency.
Taking cognizance of the wide spread prevalence of nutritional anaemia, the 'National Nutritional Anaemia Control Programme' in 1970 to prevent and control nutritional anaemia. You will learn that the beneficiaries are pregnant women, lactating women, preschool children and family planning acceptors. Under the programme, all the beneficiaries receive one tablet, containing iron and folic acid commonly referred to as folifer tablets, daily for 100 days. While the adult beneficiaries get tablets containing 100 mg of elemental iron and 0.5 mg (500 mg) of folic acid, the children receive 20 mg of elemental iron and 0.1 mg (100 mg) of folic acid. Each beneficiary should receive a total of 100 tablets. In the case of children, each year, 100 tablets are given. Although the national programme has been in operation for over 30 years, the prevalence of anaemia continues to be very high due to poor implementation of the programme due to the following reasons:
- Inadequate and irregular supplies,
- Poor coverage due to lack of supervision,
- Orientation of health functionaries, and
- Absence of nutrition education to the illiterate community.