New Delhi: Over 3 crore population in the 17 identified states in the country have been screened for sickle cell anaemia disease till June 30, 2024, the Union Minister of State for Health Shri Prataprao Jadhav informed the Lok Sabha last week.
The Minister informed that Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disease that affects the whole life of the patient. It is more common in the tribal population of India but occurs in non-tribals too. It not only causes anaemia but also pain crisis, reduces growth and affects many organs like the lungs, heart, kidneys, eyes, bones and the brain.
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This statement was made in response to questions raised by Shri Haribhai Patel who sought to know whether the Government has suitably addressed the health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among the tribal population of the country and if so, the details thereof; the details of the number of tribals who have been screened for sickle cell anaemia out of expected screening target of 8 crore under forty years of age in the next three years under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Programme; and the details of the efforts being made by the Government for successfully attaining the aforementioned target of screening of about 8 crore tribals.
In response to these questions, MoS Health said in a written statement, "To eliminate sickle cell disease, Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission has been launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister from Madhya Pradesh on 1st July 2023. The objectives of the Mission are the provision of affordable, accessible and quality care to all Sickle Cell Diseased patients, reduction in the prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease through awareness creation, and targeted screening of 7 crore people till year 2025-26 in the age group of 0-40 years in affected 278 districts of tribal areas and counselling through collaborative efforts of central ministries and State governments. Till 30.06.2024, a total of 3,55,50,230 population in the 17 identified States have been screened and uploaded on the portal by States."
Further, he shared a National Sickle Cell portal - https://sickle.nhm.gov.in where the achievement of screening can be accessed.
Through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, awareness and counselling material have been developed. IEC and media activities are adopted for the propagation of awareness of disease, screening and management. State Governments have to play an important role in the implementation of mission activities, the Minister added.