Bhopal
Under the National Sickle Cell Eradication Mission-2047, World Sickle Cell Day will be a state level program at the Sports Stadium of Gram Panchayat Talun in Barwani on June 19. Governor Mr. Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Rajendra Shukla and other ministers will attend the program. Many innovations will be launched on the occasion including genetic counseling awareness videos and comprehensive guidelines and modules for affected pregnant women. Panchayats completing 100 percent screening of the targeted age group will be honored. The “sickle cell friend” initiative will also be started in collaboration with NCC directors of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Sickle cell friends will serve as a link among service providers for awareness in the youth population.
Activities will be organized to bring awareness about sickle cell disease in the entire state on sickle cell day. Special counseling camps will be set up in 33 districts affected by sickle cell, where genetic counseling, disease management, possibilities for future generations and necessary medical services will be given. Identification, screening and other family members will also be investigated by setting up special camps in all primary and secondary health institutions from sub-center to district hospitals.
Sickle cell patients and their carers will be conveyed to management methods in acute conditions such as pen crisis. A campaign will be launched for screening and consultation in particularly affected tribal and rural panchayats in the affected district. The genetic counseling card developed at the state level will be distributed, which will facilitate people to understand genetic information. Mega camps for construction of UDID cards will also be set up to simplify the process of connecting sickle-cell patients with disabled schemes and financial assistance.
Sustainable monitoring of screening and treatment is being done through the National Sickle Cell portal. Free treatment, genetic counseling, medicines, vaccination and blood transfusion facilities are being provided to the patients. So far 26 thousand 115 patients have received treatment from hydroxyuria medicine. Screening camps are also being organized continuously in tribal schools, colleges and hostels by coordinating with various departments.
The mission in the state was started on 15 November 2021 as a pilot project in Alirajpur and Jhabua as a state hemoglobinopathy mission. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the mission from Shahdol on 1 July 2023 from Shahdol. At present, screening is going on in 33 districts of the state, including 89 development blocks and 13 additional districts (PM Janman Yojana) in 20 districts. Special labs are installed in AIIMS Bhopal for the eradication of sickle cell in 72 hours in AIIMS Bhopal. All identified patients are being provided hydroxyuria, folic acid and free blood donation. For serious patients, Bonmero transplant unit has been set up at Indore Medical College, where more than 100 transplant has been done. The Center of Excellence has been established in Rewa. Under the mission in Madhya Pradesh, continuous and strong efforts are being made to achieve the target of completely eliminating the sickle cell by 2047.
