Health practitioners, policy-makers and activists here on Monday expressed concern over high prevalence of anaemia among adolescents and women in Rajasthan and called for evolving multi-sectoral strategies through convergence with various agencies for effective control of the syndrome caused by iron deficiency and malnutrition. Addressing a workshop on “Anaemia: A major public health issue”, experts said the State Government’s Adolescent Anaemia Control Programme (AACP) could be supported by effective action in the spheres of education, health care, counselling, nutrition, hygiene, communication, behaviour change of the target groups and capacity enhancement of service providers. According to National Family Health Survey-III findings, 53.1% of women aged 15 to 49 years are anaemic in Rajasthan. Besides, moderate anaemia increases the risk of maternal death by 1.35 times, and severe anaemia by 3.5 times. Among the children of illiterate mothers, 44 per cent are stunted and an identical number are underweight. The participants felt that anaemia should not just be treated as an issue related to food adequacy and its distribution but also be linked with the levels of poverty and access to health, education, safe drinking water, hygiene and other social services. Bikaner-based Ajit Foundation organised the half-day workshop. The Ajit Foundation, headed by noted economist V. S. Vyas, has recently released a study report on “Strengthening AACP in Bikaner” with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), covering eight tehsils of Bikaner district to assess the prevalence of anaemia and understand the knowledge, attitude and practices related to anaemia among adolescent girls. Prof. Vyas, Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board, said a holistic approach involving the departments dealing with health services, education and women and child development could help deal with iron deficiency to a significant extent. The critical role would be played by the community which should be empowered through correct information and delivery of efficient services, he added. Prof. Vyas – also a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council – said the policy-makers should not just focus on agricultural production and availability of food but also “reorient [their] approach” to ensure that large sections of population actually get the required nutrition. Eminent Jaipur-based neurologist Ashok Panagariya, also a member of the State Planning Board, said the quality of iron given to the target groups must be improved and cited the findings of a study that reported only 0.1% increase in the haemoglobin level after the intake of iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets for 100 days.