The Indian government is aggressively tackling sickle cell disease with mass screenings in tribal regions. A new low-cost diagnostic tool has made testing more accessible. Over 6 crore people have already been screened, with 2.16 lakh cases identified. The mission represents a major healthcare push ahead of India's 2047 development goals.
"India's fight
against sickle cell anaemia is a commitment to equity, dignity, and the health
of our nation's most marginalised communities" – Jagat Prakash Nadda
New Delhi, Aug 12:
The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) is aimed at
tackling the genetic disorder to ensure equity and dignity to the people
affected, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Tuesday.
Key Points
1 PM Modi launches
mission to eliminate sickle cell disease by 2047
2 7 crore people to
be screened in tribal areas by 2026
3 Low-cost diagnostic
device cuts screening cost by 72%
4 Over 2 lakh cases
identified in 17 states so far
In a post shared on
the social media platform X, the PMO lauded a media article by Union Minister
Jagat Prakash Nadda on NSCAEM, aiming for a Sickle Cell Disease-free India by
2047.
“From tackling a
genetic disorder to ensuring equity and dignity, India’s National Sickle Cell
Anaemia Elimination Mission marks a new era in public health,” the PMO India
posted on the social media platform X.
Sickle Cell Disease
is a chronic, single-gene disorder that causes a debilitating systemic syndrome
characterised by chronic anaemia, acute painful episodes, organ infarction, and
chronic organ damage, significantly reducing life expectancy.
The genetic blood
disorder affects the entire life of the patient, as it leads to various severe
health complications.
“India's fight
against sickle cell anaemia is not just about addressing a genetic disorder, it
is a commitment to equity, dignity and the health of our nation's most
marginalised communities,” Nadda shared on X.
Calling NSCAEM a
“landmark initiative”, the Union Health Minister said it not only aims “to stop
the transmission of sickle cell disease but also to restore dignity and health
to millions living with this condition”.
To eliminate the
disease, the NSCAEM was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2023.
The mission aims to
eliminate sickle cell disease as a public health problem in India before 2047
by universal screening of 7 crore individuals aged 0-40 years in affected
tribal areas by FY 2025-26.
“As India moves with
determination towards the 2047 goal of eliminating SCD, the NSCAEM stands as a
beacon of hope, showing what can be achieved when the government, healthcare
professionals, and communities work together for a common cause,” Nadda said.
Nadda’s article
highlighted the government’s initiatives from mass screening and early
diagnosis to awareness campaigns and improved treatment access with a focus on
tribal communities most affected.
Earlier this month,
Nadda informed the Parliament that more than 6 crore people have been screened
for sickle cell anaemia in the country. Of this, 2.16 lakh have been identified
as diseased. He noted that the screenings under the mission were conducted in
17 states.
Meanwhile, the Indian
Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in a post on X shared how its low-cost Point-of-Contact
device is enabling wider screening of Sickle Cell patients.
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