Latest news with #NationalSickleCellAnaemiaEliminationMission2047
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
‘Will screen all in state for sickle cell anaemia'
Ranchi: The state department of health, medical education and family welfare aims to screen Jharkhand's entire population for sickle cell anaemia within a year, health minister Irfan Ansari said on Thursday. Addressing a programme, held to observe World Sickle Cell Awareness Day at sadar hospital here, Ansari said a bone marrow transplant centre will soon be set up in the hospital to ensure affordable treatment to the patients of the state. "Jharkhand has emerged as a model for other states when it comes to testing sickle cell anaemia. The health professionals, including doctors, nurses, ANMs, and GNMs, have played a key role behind this success. The govt is committed to 100% eradication of the disease in the state," he said. Ansari said extensive tests are being carried out to detect sickle cell anaemia across all the districts in line with the Centre's National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission 2047. Health officials and experts said the disease is prevalent in 17 districts, where tribal population dominate the demography. "Soon, we will set up a Medico City which will provide comprehensive medical care in the state. Patients will not have to travel outside for treatment," he said. Health secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh said most of the patients hail from tribal communities. "Out of 1,381 recorded sickle cell anaemia patients in Ranchi district, only 225 are undergoing treatment. We must ensure 100% testing of all population and provide medical attention to those affected by the disease," he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Daga Hospital Leads Sickle Cell Fight, Treats 1,500+ Patients, Screens 10,000 Women
Nagpur: Daga Memorial Women's Hospital, under the state public health department, is at the forefront of combating sickle cell anaemia, a genetic blood disorder, aligning with the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission 2047. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The hospital registered over 1,500 patients who receive regular treatment, including hydroxyurea, and screens approximately 10,000 pregnant women annually, with 5% identified as carriers of the sickle cell trait. World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, observed on June 19, holds special significance in India, particularly in high-burden regions like Nagpur. This year's theme, 'Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy', underscores the importance of community-driven efforts. Daga Hospital medical superintendent Dr Dilip Madhavi said the screening is critical for early diagnosis. "Every pregnant woman registered at the hospital undergoes mandatory sickle cell testing. With around 1,000 women screened monthly, the hospital identifies carriers to prevent the disease's transmission," he said. Civil surgeon Dr Nivrutti Rathod said soon a centre for genetic testing, including amniocentesis (a prenatal test) and chorionic villus sampling (CVS), would be set up at Daga to further enhance prenatal screening. Dr Sanjay Deshmukh, in-charge of haematology centre at Daga Hospital, said sickle cell disease (SCD) involves inherited disorders affecting haemoglobin, leading to sickle-shaped red blood cells. These cause severe pain, anaemia, and heightened infection risks, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. For severe cases, bone marrow transplant remains primary treatment but is prohibitively expensive, costing up to ₹30 lakh, he said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Dr Deshmukh said through CSR funding from Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and support from Sankalp Foundation, children under 12 eligible for transplants receive up to ₹12 lakh financial aid. He added that Daga Hospital will soon host a free HLA typing camp, a prerequisite for bone marrow transplants, in collaboration with Sankalp Foundation. Besides Dr Deshmukh, the Daga team includes counsellors Sanjeevani Satpute and Leena Borkar, and lab technicians Prachiti Walke and Rohit Jaiswal. Meanwhile, Gautam Dongre, secretary of the National Alliance of Sickle Cell Organizations (Nasco), urged mandatory sickle cell testing before marriage to prevent the pain and loss caused by the hereditary blood disorder. Sharing his experience as a parent unaware of his carrier status until his child's diagnosis, Dongre emphasised that timely testing and counselling could spare families immense suffering. He called for blood tests during pregnancy to ensure a sickle cell-free India for future generations.
