Iron deficiency still cause for concern: ISHTM

Puducherry, Sep 20 (UNI) President Indian Society of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine (ISHTM) Tejinder Singh has called for efforts to eradicate iron deficiency, a national programme.

Speaking at the inuagural function of the 49th annual conference of ISHTM at JIPMER here last night Mr Singh said ''immune status'' in children was poor and cognitive functions were not proper owing to this condition.

He said pregnant women should take sufficent amount of folic acid as ''development anomalies'' occurred in the first four weeks of the life of a foetus.

Maternal and child health programmes should include correction of anaemia, he added.

A researcher in Haematology and an academician Deepika Mohanty regretted that the country was yet to remove iron deficiency and anaemia even 60 years after Independence.

She stressed that people should be taught to take a balanced diet through advise and counselling.

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