Odisha to intensify drive against Sickle Cell and Thalassemia in high-risk zones
Bhubaneswar, Aug 20 (UNI) The Odisha Government has decided to intensify its drive against sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassaemia, with a special focus on high-risk zones of the state.
State Health Secretary Aswathy S. issued this direction while reviewing the progress of sickle cell and thalassaemia management activities in a high-level meeting held here on Tuesday.
Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Brudha D. informed that 21 districts of Odisha—Angul, Balangir, Balasore, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, and Sundargarh—have been covered under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.
In these districts, SCD screening is being carried out through multiple platforms.
At the school and Anganwadi Centre (AWC) level, children aged 0–18 years are screened by Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams. The pregnant women are screened during antenatal care on Village Health and Nutrition Day at the community level.
In tribal-populated areas, screening is conducted through mobile health units, while in urban areas, the facility is available at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
Additionally, screening facilities have also been set up at health centres in nine other districts with lower risk.
Since the launch of the programme in July 2023, around 46.65 lakh people have been screened against the cumulative target of 1.08 crore by 2025–26.
Of these, 97,501 cases of sickle cell disease and 411,395 cases of sickle cell traits have been identified.
All identified cases are receiving necessary treatment through government hospitals. Each registered SCD patient is provided Rs.500 per month towards transportation costs, credited directly to their bank account.
They are also entitled to free blood, exemption from service charges on blood packs, and free medicines at government hospitals.
Moreover, children below 12 years of age are eligible for financial assistance of up to Rs.10 lakh for bone marrow transplantation.
