NATIONAL SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA MISSION – POLITY
News: Prime
Minister launches National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission from Shahdol,
Madhya Pradesh
What's in the news?
● PM
Modi launched the National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission (NSCEM) in
Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh.
● PM
Modi said that the nation is taking a big pledge of securing the lives of the
people from tribal communities and saving the lives of 2.5 lakh children and families affected by the disease.
Key takeaways:
● Sickle
Cell Disease is a disease that impacts
tribal sections of societies significantly.
● The
government is committed to eliminate the disease before India celebrates its
Amrit Kaal in 2047.
National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission:
● The
National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Program, introduced in the Union Budget
2023, focuses on addressing the significant health challenges posed by sickle
cell disease, particularly among tribal populations of the country.
Administrative Control:
● The
Ministry of Health Affairs is the
nodal ministry to undertake the National Sickle Cell Anemia Mission.
● The
programme will be anchored and coordinated by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Sickle cell disease:
● Sickle
cell disease (SCD) is a chronic single
gene disorder causing a debilitating systemic syndrome characterized by chronic anemia, acute painful episodes,
organ infarction and chronic organ damage and by a significant reduction in
life expectancy.
Focused states:
● Implemented
in 17 high-focus states across the
country such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.
Aim:
● The
program is executed in a mission mode as part
of the National Health Mission (NHM), aims to eliminate sickle cell genetic
transmission by the year 2047, showing a long-term commitment to
eradicating the disease.
Features:
● It
will entail awareness creation,
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.
● It
aims to set up prenatal diagnosis
facilities in over 18 States wherever gaps were being identified, in
collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research laboratories.
● It
also plans to set up two Centers for
Excellence (advanced) in each of these States to set up diagnosis and
treatment facilities.
● Over
a period of three years, spanning from the fiscal year 2023-24 to 2025-26, the
program targets screening approximately 7.0 crore people.
● This
ambitious goal highlights the program's dedication to reaching a large portion
of the population, promoting early diagnosis and intervention.