Sickle cell anaemia to be eradicated by 2047: Murmu, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• President Droupadi Murmu stated that India is on track to eradicate sickle cell anaemia well before the government's target of 2047.
• She emphasized the need for collective efforts and increased awareness, particularly within tribal communities.
• The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, launched in 2023, has already achieved key targets, including the screening of seven crore people.
• Scientific studies indicate a significantly higher prevalence of sickle cell anaemia among tribal populations compared to the general population.

National Sickle Cell Anaemia.png

Detailed Insights:

• The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission was officially launched in July 2023 by the Prime Minister from Madhya Pradesh.
• The mission's primary objectives include eliminating the genetic transmission of sickle cell disease by 2047 and ensuring affordable, accessible, and quality care for affected patients.
• A key target of the mission is to screen 70 million individuals under 40 years of age by FY26, focusing on high-prevalence tribal areas.
• Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited blood disorder that disproportionately affects tribal communities due to genetic factors and practices like endogamy.
• The prevalence of the sickle cell trait in various tribal groups across India can range from 1% to as high as 40%.
• The disease causes red blood cells to become rigid and crescent-shaped, leading to blockages in blood vessels, severe pain crises, and potential organ damage.
• Strategies under the mission include extensive awareness campaigns, genetic counselling, and the distribution of genetic status cards to help prevent the disease's transmission.
• States such as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Gujarat, and Maharashtra are identified as having a high prevalence of sickle cell disease.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Sickle Cell Anaemia: An inherited blood disorder where red blood cells become abnormally crescent-shaped, leading to reduced oxygen flow, pain, and organ damage.
• National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission: A government initiative launched in July 2023 to eradicate sickle cell anaemia from India by 2047 through comprehensive screening, awareness, and patient care.