Efforts on to curb spread of sickle cell anaemia among tribes in AP

Vijayawada: Principal secretary (Tribal Welfare) Kantilal Dande underlined that the state government is making all efforts to curb the spread of sickle cell anaemia, especially among tribal communities.

Taking part in a programme to mark the World Sickle Cell Anaemia Awareness Day’ at AIIMS in Mangalagiri of Guntur district on Wednesday, he said the main objective of the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission is to bring about awareness among the seven crore people, aged between 0–40 years and living in tribal areas, to undergo tests for confirming whether they have the disease.

Both the centre and state governments implement this programme.

The senior tribal welfare official they are conducting screening tests among tribal communities to confirm whether any of them has this genetic disorder. He said in case anyone inherits this gene from their parents, he or she could become a carrier of the disease.

Kantilal Dande emphasised that early diagnosis of the disease will help initiate treatment, which would help control the sickle cell anaemia.

Speaking on the occasion, tribal welfare director J. Venkata Murali disclosed that one among 86 tribals in the country is vulnerable to the disease. With regard to AP, he said they are making arrangements to screen nearly 20 lakh tribals for the disease.

Venkata Murali said in 2023–24, they screened 5.39 lakh tribal persons in AP. They found 1,667 persons to be infected with sickle cell anaemia, while 18,668 persons turned out to be carriers of the disease.

The tribal welfare director said those infected with the disease get a pension of ₹10,000.