Chandigarh, November 18: The Punjab government has renewed its commitment to women’s health by intensifying its “Anemia Mukt Punjab” campaign, a statewide initiative aimed at reducing anemia among mothers, daughters and young children. Officials noted that the effort is not limited to announcements, but rooted in on-ground work meant to create long-term change in public health.
At the centre of the initiative is a major screening drive targeting girl students in government schools from classes 6 to 12. According to the government, nearly 60,000 girls are undergoing hemoglobin checks through a new needle-free device introduced to make testing faster and painless. Health officials said the technology enables immediate identification and treatment of anemic students. “A healthy daughter is the foundation of a healthy Punjab,” an official from the Health Department mentioned, noting that the new method helps reach students who previously avoided testing.
The campaign draws support from a coordinated framework involving the Health, Education, and Women and Child Development departments. Officials said this inter-department plan is ensuring regular distribution of Iron-Folic Acid tablets, along with efforts to improve children’s nutrition levels. About 7.27 lakh young children and more than 2.06 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers across rural and urban areas are receiving IFA tablets through Anganwadi workers and ASHA staff. Meanwhile, the state is also upgrading the quality of Mid-Day Meals to support children’s physical and cognitive development.
Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur noted that awareness remains a key factor. “Preventing anemia requires community understanding, and we are conducting campaigns in public spaces to promote balanced nutrition,” she said, urging families to avoid unhealthy food habits and to support equal access to nutrition for girls. She added that the campaign reflects the government’s intention to guarantee better health outcomes, with implementation taking precedence over paperwork.
