The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) and UNICEF, launched non-invasive anaemia screening to reach 10,000 school children, monks and nuns across four districts.
The initiative, launched at Yangchenphug Higher Secondary School, will cover Thimphu, Samtse, Sarpang and Samdrup Jongkhar. It will use Masimo Rad-67 technology, which measures haemoglobin levels through a fingertip sensor without requiring a blood sample.
The screening aims to identify children and adolescents with anaemia early, facilitate referrals and follow-up, and generate evidence to strengthen health and nutrition programs. It will also assess existing health and nutrition interventions to inform future policies.
The initiative comes as national survey findings highlight the continuing burden of anaemia and iron deficiency in Bhutan.
According to the MoH Fifth National Health Survey 2023, anaemia affected 44.7 percent of children aged six to 59 months and 36.5 percent of adolescent girls aged 10–19.
Among non-pregnant women aged 15 – 49, anaemia prevalence increased from 34.9 percent in the National Nutrition Survey 2015 to 40.9 percent in 2023, a rise of six percentage points.
The 2023 survey also found that ferritin deficiency, which indicates depleted iron stores, affected 59.8 percent of women aged 15–49 and 43.4 percent of adolescents aged 10–19, according to the detailed MoH report.
This paper reached out to a dietitian at JDWNRH, Sonam Wangmo. “Preventing anaemia is not just about eating enough, but eating a diverse and balanced diet. Children need iron-rich foods alongside vitamin C-rich fruits to improve iron absorption. However, anaemia is not always caused by iron deficiency, so proper health assessment is important,” the dietitian said.
She also highlighted the important role of parents and caregivers in preventing nutritional anaemia by ensuring children receive a variety of nutrient-rich foods. Alongside rice and potatoes, families should include meat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils and green leafy vegetables in children’s meals. Combining plant-based iron sources with vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables can further improve iron absorption.
Anaemia and iron deficiency are related but are not the same condition. Anaemia occurs when the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal. Haemoglobin carries oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues. Ferritin is a protein used to assess the body’s iron stores, and low levels can indicate iron deficiency.
The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies nutritional deficiencies, infections, inflammation, chronic diseases, blood loss and inherited blood disorders among the possible causes of anaemia. Iron deficiency is a common nutritional cause, but not every case of anaemia is caused by a lack of iron.
A varied diet that includes iron-rich foods such as meat, fish, legumes and dark green leafy vegetables can help prevent some forms of anaemia. Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables can also improve iron absorption. However, prevention and treatment depend on the underlying cause, and people with suspected anaemia should seek advice from a qualified health-care provider.
Anaemia can cause tiredness, dizziness, headaches and shortness of breath. Severe cases can affect children’s cognitive and motor development, while anaemia during pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and birth outcomes.
The new screening initiative is intended to strengthen early detection and follow-up among children and adolescents. Its findings could also help health and education authorities better understand the nutritional challenges facing young people and improve the design of future interventions.
Speaking to The Bhutanese, an UNICEF official said the screening is ongoing and is expected to conclude by the end of this month. He said more details would be shared once the screening is completed.
This paper will come up with an update when the report findings become available.
