Chandigarh, November 18: Reaffirming its focus on public health, the Punjab government has accelerated its anemia-reduction programme, saying it aims to improve the wellbeing of mothers, daughters and children across the state. Officials noted that the “Anemia Mukt Punjab” campaign has been pushed forward with new tools and renewed coordination among key departments.
A major component of the programme is school-level screening of girls from classes 6 to 12. Nearly 60,000 students in government schools are being tested with a handheld needle-free hemoglobin analyser. Health officials said the device speeds up the process and makes it easier to treat students on the spot if anemia is detected. “We want every girl to be screened and treated without fear,” a senior official noted, adding that the campaign places daughters’ health at the forefront of state priorities.
The government said the initiative is being strengthened through combined efforts of the Health, Education and Women and Child Development departments. As part of this coordination, around 7.27 lakh young children and 2.06 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers are being provided Iron-Folic Acid tablets through Anganwadi centres. Officials also pointed to improvements in the Mid-Day Meal programme, saying enhanced nutrition is essential for long-term health gains.
Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said public participation is crucial to lowering anemia rates. “Awareness is indispensable. We are urging citizens to adopt nutritious diets and reduce consumption of unhealthy market foods,” she mentioned. She added that removing social barriers and offering equal nutritional support to daughters remains a central aim of the campaign. According to her, the programme demonstrates the government’s stated intent to deliver tangible results instead of leaving health commitments on paper.
