Health experts say iron deficiency during pregnancy can pose a serious health risk to mothers and infants in the long run. [break]
Over 20 percent of maternal mortality cases are attributed to iron deficiency. “Postpartum hemorrhage causes immediate death of the mother. Lack of iron reduces resistance to blood loss, death may occur from bleeding,” Dr Silu Aryal, a gynecologist said.
According to Aryal, anemia is one of the serious health problems that is affecting more than 35percent of pregnant women.
Iron is essential for the production of hemoglobin; a key protein responsible for the movement of oxygen throughout the body. The government has been providing minerals to the pregnant women since 1998.
The Child Health Division (CHD) under the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) says that 78 percent children cross the country are anemic. The office attributes iron deficiency in pregnancy for the main cause of anemia among children.
“Due to iron deficiency, children lose their overall productivity while their learning abilities are also affected,” said Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, director of CHD. According to CHD, up to 13 to 25 percent child deaths take place due to iron deficiency.
The District Public Health Office (DPHO), Kathmandu has stopped providing iron pills to pregnant women after they were found to be defective. The DPHO said more than 33,000 pregnant women are currently being deprived of iron pills.
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