The Prime Minister launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission in Madhya Pradesh.
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
A type of haemoglobin disorder, inherited blood diseases that affect how oxygen is carried in the body.
Characterised by a modification in the shape of the red blood cell from a smooth, doughnut shape into a crescent or half-moon shape. (refer image)
Cure: Stem cell or bone marrow transplants (Hematopoietic stem cell transplant), but they involve significant risks.
SCD in India : India is the second-worst affected country in terms of predicted births with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) — i.e., chances of being born with the condition.
o In India, SCD is more common in tribal populations because of malnutrition.
o A report by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) has listed SCD as one of the 10 special problems that affect health of tribal people. ✓ Tribes like Pawara, Bhil, Madia, Gond and Pardhan from Maharashtra have a very high prevalence rate.
About National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission • Objective: To provide affordable and accessible care to all SCD patients, ensure the quality of care and lower the prevalence of the disease. The vision of the mission is to eliminate SCD as a public health problem in India before 2047.
Strategy: A three-pillar strategy to be carried out in a mission mode: o Health promotion: Awareness generation & pre-marital genetic counselling. o Prevention: Universal screening and early detection. o Holistic Management & Continuum of Care. • Beneficiaries: Covering the entire population from 0 to 18 years of age and shall incrementally include the entire population up to 40 years as a part of the National Health Mission (NHM). o Initial Focus: 17 states with a higher prevalence of SCD including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, MP, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, etc. o The mission aims to cover 7 crore people in three and half years. • Convergence: The programme would be an integration with existing mechanisms and strategies (such as Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan) under NHM.
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