Bhubaneswar: To combat sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia, a six-day capacity development and sensitization programme was organised by National Health Mission (NHM) Odisha, in collaboration with Unicef. The programme, which concluded Wednesday, was attended by doctors from the districts and managers handling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among others. State Health System Resource Centre (SHSRC), Odisha team leader Dinabandhu Sahoo, said, “Till now, around 30 lakh screenings have been conducted in 21 districts in which 70,000 people were identified with sickle cell disease.
Over the next five years, we aim to screen 80 lakh people aged 0 to 40 years with a special focus on tribal communities.” “Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder in which red blood cells contort into a sickle shape. The cells die early, leaving a shortage of healthy red blood cells, causing sickle cell anaemia,” he said. In his address, a Nutrition Specialist at Unicef, Sourav Bhattacharjee emphasised on the importance of patient education and treatment adherence. “It is essential to treat and follow up patients with sickle cell and thalassemia at the grassroots level. We need to spread awareness and provide counselling to the targeted families,” he said. According to sources, Odisha is one of the states where there is a high prevalence of sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia.
In 21 districts, the prevalence of sickle cell anaemia ranges from 10 per cent to 40 per cent and thalassemia six per cent to 10 per cent. Notably, in 2023, the Central government launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, aiming to eradicate sickle cell disease by 2047. A total of 4,000 sickle cell genetic status cards have been distributed to beneficiaries for tracking and treatment, sources said.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP
