The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has screened more than 73.1 million people over the past three years for sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that heavily affects indigenous communities in the country’s central and southern regions.
The initiative aims to take early diagnosis, genetic counselling, and specialised treatment to remote tribal pockets that carry a disproportionate burden of the genetic blood disorder. Sickle cell disease can cause severe anaemia, recurrent painful episodes, organ damage, stroke and other potentially life-threatening complications. Apart from universal newborn screening for early detection and medical intervention, the campaign focuses on adolescents and young adults. “On the treatment front, the ministry’s approach includes hydroxyurea, pain-management protocols, infection-prevention measures and blood transfusions for selected high-risk patients. The ministry is also working with the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) and plans to partially fund research related to gene therapy for sickle cell disease.
7.02 million people were found to be SCD-negative while 2.06 million were identified with sickle cell trait and 251,191 with sickle cell disease, according to data compiled by the tribal affairs ministry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission in July 2023 with a two-pronged screening strategy.
“Confirmation was in process in another 5,31,177 cases,” an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. An official said screening adolescents and young adults, meanwhile, allows those carrying the sickle cell trait to understand their genetic status and make informed reproductive decisions. Bone marrow transplantation remains a potential curative option for eligible patients, while gene-based therapies are being explored as a longer-term intervention,” said another official.
