WHO calls for accelerated action to reduce anemia

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WHO launches its first comprehensive framework on reducing anemia, calling on countries to accelerate action to halve the prevalence of anemia in women of reproductive age by 2025. Progress in reducing anemia has been slow and the world is not on track to reach the global target. Anemia is a serious global public health problem affecting 571 million women and 269 million young children worldwide.

In 2019, anemia affected 40% of children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years, 37% of pregnant women, and 30% of women between the ages of 15 and 49. It is more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. Anemia increases the risk of infections and death, affects cognitive performance, and causes extreme fatigue, poor pregnancy outcomes, loss of income, and poor growth and development. It is a strong indicator of overall health.

“Most of the work to address anemia has focused on the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency,” says Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety. “However, anemia is a complex condition with multiple causes, including other nutritional deficiencies, infections, inflammation, gynecologic and obstetric conditions, and inherited red blood cell disorders.” All must be addressed to effectively prevent and treat anemia.

The new framework sets out ways to address the direct causes, risk factors, and broad social inequities that are fundamental drivers of anaemia. It describes the necessarily comprehensive approach that brings together multiple sectors and actors, and sets out key areas for action to improve coverage and uptake of interventions.

Recognizing that health remains the predominant sector for delivering many of the recommended interventions, the framework also proposes actions that other stakeholders in society can take. These include governments, civil society, academia, researchers, funding agencies, international organizations, and the media. Each one has its particular role in reducing anemia and maintaining people’s health.

The framework is launched during the International Conference on Maternal and Newborn Health.