Visakhapatnam: Adolescent girls found anaemic

Visakhapatnam: At a time when India is observing National Nutritional Week, the recent blood donation camp organised at Andhra University had thrown up some startling findings about the prevailing trends of anaemia in Visakhapatnam district. About 1,100 girl students, mostly adolescents, from around 50 colleges were drawn for blood donation. After the initial screening tests, only 67 girl students were found eligible and the remaining students were deferred due to low haemoglobin levels and/or less than optimal BMI (body mass index).

These girls were found to have haemoglobin level within the range of 7-9, while the normal is above 12. A study carried out by the ITDA as well as district health department in schools of Vizag Agency area last year also found somewhat similar findings with 74,721 students having less than desirable haemoglobin levels, the majority being girls. Observers say that the high rate of malnutrition,  coupled with lack of awareness, has been making the girls slip into anaemia. Not having enough iron to produce haemoglobin (a red protein responsible for transporting oxygen to the body’s tissues), the anaemic patients most commonly experience tiredness and fatigue without any apparent physical activity.  

The lowered immunity also makes them prone to acquiring an array of infections. Explaining about the  iron deficiency anaemia, Dr. Ramana Rao, a general physician, said: "Adolescence is a crucial time of intense development on all fronts - whether it be physical or cognitive. The nutritional needs of the body would become quite critical at this critical juncture of growth. Girls would obviously need more nutrients compared to boys due to the onset of menstruation and associated changes. Creating awareness in the girls about nutritious diet is more important than supplementing them with iron tablets. Sometimes, hookworm infection is also found to be a common cause as the worms feed on blood inside the gut."

He added: "Changing food preference towards junk foods is also one of the reasons for developing iron deficiency anaemia. The prevention is as simple as taking a nutritious diet as well as seeking medical intervention if they are already found to have low haemoglobin levels."