Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) initiative, launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2018, is a nationwide movement towards a healthier India. This ambitious program aims to eliminate anemia among key population groups, including pregnant women, children, and adolescents, through a comprehensive 6x6x6 strategy.
At the heart of the AMB initiative is the National Health Mission (NHM), which provides financial and technical support to state and union territory governments in implementing the program. Under the leadership of PM Modi, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has spearheaded this effort, recognizing the critical role of addressing anemia in achieving the country’s broader health and development goals.
The 6x6x6 strategy of the AMB initiative encompasses six beneficiary groups, six interventions, and six institutional mechanisms. The beneficiary groups include children (6-59 months), adolescent girls (15-19 years), pregnant women, lactating women, women of reproductive age (15-49 years), and other vulnerable groups. The six interventions focus on iron and folic acid supplementation, deworming, behavior change communication, convergence with other ministries, addressing non-nutritional causes of anemia, and strengthening the supply chain for anemia-related commodities.
To ensure effective implementation, the AMB initiative has established six institutional mechanisms, including national and state-level steering committees, district-level task forces, and community-level monitoring through the Anganwadi network and ASHA workers. The use of digital tools, such as hemoglobinometers, has also been integrated to facilitate real-time tracking and targeted interventions.
The success of the AMB initiative in Madhya Pradesh, where anemia prevalence among pregnant women decreased from 51.9% in 2015-16 to 39.1% in 2019-20, serves as a testament to the program’s potential. As the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare continues to work towards the ambitious goal of reducing anemia by 3% annually, the AMB initiative stands as a shining example of the government’s commitment to a healthier and more prosperous India.
