SRINAGAR (Kashmir English): A staggering 72.7% of children under the age of five in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are suffering from anemia, making it one of the highest rates as compared to India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the ‘Children in India 2025′ report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation reveals that anemia affects 73.9% of males and 71.4% of females in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with rural areas seeing a higher prevalence of 73.5% compared to 70.1% in urban areas.
Poor feeding practices lead to anemia
Doctors attribute this alarming trend to nutritional deficiency, inadequate diet, and poor feeding practices after six months. “Iron Deficiency Anemia is the predominant form responsible for a large share of anemia cases in toddlers and young children,” said Dr. Shabeena Shah, a child specialist.
The lack of iron-rich foods, coupled with staple grain-based diets, exacerbates the issue.
Experts emphasise that anemia poses serious risks to the growth, immunity, and development of the region’s youngest population, leading to fatigue, weakened immunity, delayed growth, and impaired brain development.
The lack of effective monitoring, coupled with inadequate awareness and resources, has contributed to the worsening crisis. The authorities’ apathy towards this issue has left thousands of children vulnerable to the devastating effects of anemia, demanding immediate attention and action.
