Last year the government of India had launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission
Prime minister Narendra Modi and health minister J P Nadda have reiterated their commitment to the elimination of Sickle Cell Anaemia.
In their statements of the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day, they talked about the importance of early diagnosis, treatment access, and enhancing the quality of care for those affected. In his post on the social media site X, Modi wrote: “On World Sickle Cell Day, we reiterate our commitment to overcome this disease. Last year, we launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission and have been working on aspects like creating awareness, universal screening, early detection and proper care. We are also leveraging the power of technology in this area.”
Nadda also posted about the disease. He wrote: “Every year on June 19th, we obsrve World Sickle Cell Day to raise awareness about sickle cell disease. Guided by the mantra “Hope Through Progress: Advancing Global Sickle Cell Care & Treatment,” we strengthen our commitment to combating this disease. Our efforts focus on promoting early diagnosis, ensuring access to treatment, and enhancing the quality of care for those affected.”
Sickle cell anaemia is a disease of the red blood cells where the cells are deformed because of a genetic condition that makes them incapable of carrying oxygen sufficiently. A person can be a carrier of the trait without ever having symptoms. When two people who are carriers get married, the chances their children having the disease are high.
India had launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission in July 2023 under which screening is being carried out in sickle cell endemic districts of the country with people being provided cards that depict their sickle cell status. This is aimed at preventing marriage between two carriers and over a period of time bring down incidence of the disease.
