Mission to Combat Sickle Cell Disease Among Tribal Populations

Kantilal Dande, Principal Secretary of the Tribal Welfare Department, highlighted the Mission for Elimination of Sickle Cell Disease, which aims to educate seven crore tribal individuals aged zero to 40 about the condition. Targeting complete eradication by 2047, the mission encompasses awareness campaigns, capacity building, medical camps, and genetic counselling.

Screening tests recently completed their first phase, revealing one in every 86 tribal individuals is affected. In Andhra Pradesh, over 1,667 cases and 18,668 carriers were identified from a tested population of 5 lakh. The State provides a ₹10,000 monthly pension and free medication to patients, reinforcing the commitment to combating this genetic disease.