New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission at a public programme in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, on 27 June, the prime minister’s office (PMO) said in a statement on Monday. During the event, he will also distribute sickle cell genetic status cards to the beneficiaries.

As announced in the budget, the mission will focus on awareness building, universal screening of seven crore people in the age group of 0-40 years in affected tribal areas and counselling through collaborative efforts of central ministries and state governments.

“The mission aims to address the pressing health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among the tribal population. The launch will mark a crucial milestone in the Government’s ongoing efforts to eliminate sickle cell disease as a public health problem by 2047," the PMO said in a press release.
This will be implemented in 278 districts of 17 high focused states in the country namely Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, and Uttarakhand, it added.

The prime minister will kickstart the distribution of about 3.57 crore Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards in Madhya Pradesh. The ceremony for the distribution of Ayushman cards is being organised at urban bodies, gram panchayats and development blocks across the state.

The card distribution campaign is a step towards realising the prime minister’s vision of reaching out to every beneficiary to ensure 100% saturation of welfare schemes.

About Sickle Cell Anemia: Sickle Cell Anemia is a genetic blood disorder that affects the structure of red blood cells. This condition is caused by a mutation in the gene responsible for producing hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood. Normally, red blood cells are flexible and round, allowing them to easily flow through blood vessels. However, in individuals with sickle cell anemia, the mutated hemoglobin causes red blood cells to become rigid and take on a crescent or sickle shape. These abnormally shaped cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, leading to a lack of oxygen supply to tissues and organs. This can result in severe pain, organ damage, and various complications. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder, meaning it is passed down from parents to their children. Although there is no known cure for sickle cell anemia, treatments such as pain management, blood transfusions, and bone marrow transplants can help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life for those affected by this condition. Ongoing research and advancements in medical science offer hope for better understanding and management of sickle cell anemia in the future.

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