By: Pankaj Sood
Solan: The alarming number of people suffering from anemia in Himachal Pradesh has forced the government to start a statewide programme to make Himachal anemia-free. The health department has set up a target time of three years to make every Himachali healthy by testing more than 20 lakh people for their hemoglobin level. From April onwards, the health staff would reach people’s doorstep to test their blood & iron levels and provide on-the-spot diet consultations and medicines for those found affected by anemia. The department has already tested 9 lakh peoples in Kangra & Hamirpur district under this programme.
State health minister Rajiv Bindal revealed that more than 90% people in Kangra district were found suffering from anemia and in Hamirpur also 71% people are living with low blood levels. He said that after reviewing the results, the department has decided to extend this programme in 10 other districts of the state.
Bindal informed that blood testing equipment is being provided to the staff and it is made sure that they reach every anganwadi at village level. He said that Himachal is the first state to start such a programme on a big level. State’s Ayurveda department has been made nodal agency to implement this programme.