[Watch] Odisha CM Launches ‘AMLAN’ For Reducing Anaemia; To Benefit 1.37 Crore People

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday launched AMLAN – Anaemia Mukta Lakhya Abhiyan – to benefit over 1.37 crore people and make the state free from anaemia.

The mission is a multi-pronged approach for accelerated reduction of anaemia among targeted groups.

Hailing the mission a giant leap, the Chief Minister said “it is our own programme for making the state free from anaemia, especially women and children.”

The programme will be carried out by several departments including Health & Family Welfare, School & Mass Education, Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti and ST & SC Development departments.

Launching the programme on virtual platform, the Chief Minister said it will benefit around 1.37 Crore people, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, women of reproductive age group, adolescents and children.

Naveen further said that the major interventions are strengthening iron and folic acid supplementation, testing for haemoglobin, treatment of anaemic cases, capacity building of service providers and social behaviour change communication.

The programme will be rolled out in 55,000 government and government aided schools and 74,000 Anganwadi Centres across the state, the CM said.

Stating that the endeavour is focussed on the principle of ‘Every life is precious’, he said  the state government has prioritised for development of the health sector.

With intensive focus on public health schemes, Odisha has shown improvement in many health indicators like Immunisation, Infant Mortality Rate, Maternal Mortality Ratio, infant and young child feeding practices, and under-nutrition.

However, anaemia remains a major public health challenge across the country, he added.

The CM urged the concerned departments and on-field service providers to work in a concerted manner for successful implementation of AMLAN for achieving Anaemia Mukta Odisha.

The CM also released the Operational Guidelines for AMLAN.

Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said this programme will definitely succeed with coordinated efforts of all departments. Previously, we have done it in management of Covid-19, he added.

Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian moderated the programme.

Health & Family Welfare Secretary Shalini Pandit gave the welcome address and Director Family Welfare offered the vote of thanks.

Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of several departments, officials from all districts joined online.