New Delhi, July 9 -- United Nations agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, as well as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), today raised concern over the growing burden of anaemia in South Asia, warning that without urgent intervention, an additional 18 million women and girls could be affected by 2030.
Currently, anaemia affects nearly half of all adolescent girls and women in the region, accounting for an economic loss of USD 32.5 billion annually. In a statement issued here, the WHO said that investing in maternal anaemia interventions yields substantial economic returns. "For every USD 1 invested, the estimated return is USD 9.50," the agency noted.
The issue has prompted govern...