Colombo: More than 18 million additional women and girls are projected to become anaemic by 2030 if decisive actions are not implemented, adding to the existing burden of 259 million. Anaemia continues to be a significant health and equity challenge in South Asia, affecting nearly half of all adolescent girls and women in the region.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, these concerns were highlighted at the “Nourishing South Asia: Reducing Anaemia in Adolescent Girls and Women” regional conference held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. For the first time, governments from seven South Asian nations are uniting to combat anaemia through collective efforts. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), UNICEF, and WHO have called for urgent and unified action in South Asia, which bears the highest global burden of anaemia among girls and women.
The conference, hosted by SAARC, the Government of Sri Lanka, UNICEF, WHO, and other partners, is taking place over three days starting from July 9. It gathers over 100 policymakers, researchers, health experts, and development leaders to develop a regional framework and country-specific action plans to tackle this widespread health crisis. A new South Asia Anaemia Academic Alliance is set to be launched at the event, aiming to foster scientific leadership and address research gaps for long-term solutions.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya addressed the conference, emphasizing that anaemia remains a public health concern in Sri Lanka, impacting 18.5% of women of reproductive age and 14.6% of children under five. He expressed eagerness to strengthen partnerships with UNICEF, WHO, and other UN agencies, stating that the conference underscores Sri Lanka’s position as a regional leader in addressing anaemia.
Speakers at the conference noted that anaemia is not just a health issue but a symptom of broader challenges such as poor nutrition, infections, and inequality. The most affected are the poorest, particularly women and children, which exacerbates the crises of poor health, malnutrition, lost opportunities, and gender inequality. Secretary General of SAARC Golam Sarwar and Regional Director of UNICEF South Asia Sanjay Wijesekera were among those who spoke at the event. Experts emphasized that while governments must lead the efforts, communities, health workers, schools, and families also play crucial roles in eliminating anaemia from the region.