Urgent Intervention Required to Address Severe Anemia Among Adolescent Girls in Varanasi

To,

The Chairperson,

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Manav Adhikar Bhawan, Block-C, GPO Complex, INA
New Delhi - 110023

 

 

Subject: Urgent Intervention Required to Address Severe Anemia Among Adolescent Girls in Varanasi

Respected Chairperson,

I am writing to bring to your urgent attention the critical health issue of anemia among adolescent girls in Varanasi, based on a recent health survey conducted by JanMitra Nyas, with support from CRY. The survey, which included hemoglobin tests of 685 adolescent girls across four blocks and two urban settlements in Varanasi, revealed alarming statistics indicating widespread anemia:

• Severe Anemia: 56 girls (8.2%)
• Moderate Anemia: 489 girls (71.4%)
• Mild Anemia: 102 girls (14.9%)
• No Anemia: Only 38 girls (5.5%)

These findings are deeply concerning, as anemia poses severe health risks, including impaired physical and mental development, chronic fatigue, weakened immune systems, and in severe cases, cardiovascular complications. This situation demands immediate and decisive action to prevent further deterioration of the health of these young girls.

JanMitra Nyas is actively working to combat this issue through various interventions, such as:

1.    Iron Supplement Distribution: Providing necessary iron supplements to girls to counteract anemia.

2.    Nutritional Education: Educating girls about the importance of a nutritious diet to prevent and manage anemia.

3.    Healthcare Access: Facilitating regular health check-ups and improving access to Community Health Centers (CHC), Primary Health Centers (PCH), and Sub Centers - Health and Wellness Centers (HWC).

Despite these efforts, the scale of the problem requires a more coordinated and systemic approach. I respectfully urge the NHRC to consider the following actions:

1.    Review and Strengthen the National Nutritional Anemia Control Programme (NNACP): Enhance the effectiveness and accountability of the program, ensuring that it is adequately funded and implemented on a war footing.

2.    Health and Human Rights Education: Integrate health and human rights education into formal and non-formal curricula to raise awareness about anemia and its prevention.

3.    Comprehensive Legislation: Advocate for comprehensive health legislation that focuses on the rights of women and children, particularly adolescent girls, ensuring their access to essential health services.

For detailed insights into this issue, you can refer to an article published on Medium, outlining the concerning scenario of anemia among adolescent girls in Varanasi: Anemia Among Adolescent Girls in Varanasi: A Concerning Scenario.

I hope that the NHRC will take swift and effective action to address this pressing health crisis, ensuring the well-being and future of our young girls.

Yours sincerely,

Shruti Nagvanshi
Managing Director, Chief Functionary

JanMitra Nyas

https://janmitranyas.in/

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Shruti Nagvanshi

Co-Founder, Managing Trustee, and Chief Functionary

JanMitra Nyas

Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations

SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi - 221002, India

Mobile: +91-9935599330 and +91-9935599333

Website: www.janmitranyas.in 

JanMitra Nyas:Pioneering Health Equity at the Grassroots

Wikipedia: Shruti Nagvanshi, People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights

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