The Central Government has introduced significant changes to the 'Anemia Mukt Bharat' (Anemia-Free India) campaign. New operational guidelines have been issued to rapidly reduce anemia cases across the country. Under these guidelines, the existing '6×6×6' strategy has been expanded to a '7×7×7' strategy. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda released these new operational guidelines during the 16th meeting of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare.

Under the new strategy, low-birth-weight infants aged zero to six months will also be included in the campaign. The objective is to strengthen anemia prevention and treatment right from the early stages of life.

What are the highlights of the new guidelines?

The government states that the program will be advanced as a more comprehensive, people-centric, and technology-driven campaign. Instead of being limited merely to the distribution of iron tablets, the campaign will now incorporate screening, treatment, proper nutrition, digital tracking, and public participation.

For the first time, low-birth-weight infants up to six months of age have been included as the seventh beneficiary group.
Additionally, 'Eating Right' (consuming a balanced, iron-rich diet) has been added as the seventh intervention to foster the habit of consuming nutritious food daily.

A robust monitoring and evaluation system, supported by digital tracking, has been introduced as the seventh institutional mechanism.

Shift in Service Model: From T-3 to T-4

The government has also modified the service delivery model. The 'Test, Treat, Talk, and Track' (T-4) model will now replace the 'Test, Treat, and Talk' (T-3) model.

Under this new model, special emphasis will be placed on hemoglobin testing, treatment of iron-deficiency anemia, regular monitoring of patients, and nutritional counseling. Provisions have also been made to administer ferric carboxymaltose and iron sucrose intravenously to pregnant and lactating women suffering from severe anemia or those who do not respond to oral iron tablets.

Under the new system, all records related to anemia will be linked via a digital platform. Screening records for pregnant women will be entered on the 'Janani' portal, while records for children will be logged on the IBSAC and U-WIN portals. Subsequently, all these platforms will be integrated to create a unified 'Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' portal.

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