Telangana government to launch KCR Nutrition Kits scheme on 21 December

The government was set to launch the scheme on the occasion of the Bathukamma Festival in September, but it was delayed by three months due to logistical constraints.

As per estimates, it will benefit 1.25 lakh pregnant women. For this, the government will spend ₹50 crore. It has made arrangements to distribute a total of 2.5 lakh kits. A KCR nutrition kit costs the government ₹1,962.

“The nutrition kits aim to reduce anaemia and increase haemoglobin percentage by providing proteins, minerals, and vitamins through nutrition,” said the Health Department in a statement.

Contents of KCR Nutrition Kits. (Supplied)

“These kits will be given once during the second antenatal care (ANC) checkup — between 13-27 weeks of the pregnancy — and a second time during the third ANC checkup between 28-34 weeks,” it added.

“The government is distributing this in 231 government health centres in nine districts,” said the department.

The nutrition kits are expected to contain a kilogram of nutrition mix powder, a kilogram of dates, three bottles of iron syrup, 500 grams of ghee, an Albendazole Tablet, a plastic cup, and a plastic basket.

A step towards MMR reduction

According to the Central government’s sample registration survey this month, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) has come down to 43 from 92 in 2014.

Telangana ranks third in the country in reducing maternal mortality, said the state’s Health Department.

“Anaemia is becoming the bane of nursing mothers. Childbirth is becoming complicated for pregnant women. Studies have shown that preventing anaemia can significantly reduce maternal mortality. To further reduce the MMR numbers, the government is implementing the KCR Nutrition Kits scheme,” said the Health Department.

Telangana Finance and Health Minister Harish Rao, Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, and minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy are expected to start the nutrition kit distribution programme in virtual mode from the Kamareddy Collectorate.

At the same time, local ministers, MLAs, and other public representatives will participate in the programme held in the other eight districts.

Anaemia cases amongst women and children in the state are high, as most women in rural districts are not consuming sufficient iron in their foods.

In the state, 57.6 percent of the women are anaemic, according to National Family and Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) data.

Also, 53.2 percent of pregnant women are anaemic in the state, up by 5 percentage points since the last survey.

Even 70 percent of the kids in Telangana are anaemic, up by 10 points since the last survey.

Anaemia in districts

The health minister said the nine districts were selected by a team of women officers belonging to the all-India service that studied anaemia problems among pregnant women.

In Adilabad, 61.1 percent of non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years are anaemic, while 76.3 percent of children in the age group 6-59 months are anaemic.

That number is 69.3 percent and 69 percent, respectively, in Bhadradri Kothagudem.

In Jogulamba Gadwal, 64.1 percent of non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years are anaemic, while 82.4 percent of children in the age group 6-59 months are anaemic.

in Jayashankar Bhupalpally, those numbers are 66.4 percent and 69.9 percent, respectively.

Similarly, they are 59.5 percent and 71.6 percent in Bhadradri Kothagudem, 67.3 percent and 70.7 percent in Asifabad, 53.5 percent and 75.1 percent in Nagarkurnool, 61.3 percent and 70 percent in Vikarabad, and 61.1 percent and 76.3 percent in Adilabad, respectively.

“Anaemia is mostly caused by the deficiency of iron in the body. Anaemia makes a person tired and short of breath. Women lose more blood during menstruation. They, in general, are at a greater risk of iron-deficiency anaemia. Iron deficiency can also lead to an acceleration in digestive issues,” said Dr R Kavya, a nutritionist from Hyderabad.