National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme

At present, the National nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme is operated as part of the RCH programme. under the revised policy, the target group has been expanded to include infants 6-12 months, school children 6-10 years and adolescents 11-18 years of age, clinically found to be anaemic. For infants and children, liquid formulation having 20 mg elemental iron and 100 ug folic acid per ml, will be made available. Dosage schedule for various age groups is given below:

• Children 6-60 months: 2o mg elemental iron + 100 ug folic acid(one tablet of pediatric IFA or 5 ml of IFA syrup or 1 ml of IFA drops) for a total of 100 days if the child is clinically found to be anaemic.
• School children 6-10 years: 30 mg elemental iron + 250 ug folic acid for 100 days.
• Adolescents 11-18 years: 100 mg elemental iron + 500 ug folic acid for 100 days. Adolescent girls to be given greater priority in the programme.
• Pregnant women: one tablet of 100 mg elemental iron + 500 ug folic acid prophylactically daily and if clinically anaemic, 2 such tablets to be given daily for 100 days.
• Nursing mothers and acceptors of family planning: one tablet containing 100 mg elemental iron + 500 ug folic acid daily for 100 days.

The programme strategy also includes health and nutrition education to improve overall dietary intakes and promote consumption of iron and folate rich foods as well as food items that promote iron absorption.