Taking into consideration the severe impacts of sickle cell disease and the increasing number of patients, the central government has under taken new project. “ Sickle Cell disease Free India.” This is the significant project of Government of India. In coordination with Sankalp India Foundation, Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society of India has started a project in medical colleges and government hospitals of Maharashtra state, under which all pregnant women are subjected to HPLC testing in the first trimester of pregnancy. Those who are found positive for thalassemia minor or sickle cell trait, their spouses are also tested. If both husband and wife are positive then CVS test is recommended at 12 weeks of pregnancy, which can prevent the birth of a child suffering from thalassemia major and sickle cell disease. This project has been started in all the districts of Vidarbha, and many districts of Maharashtra said Dr. Vinky Rughwani, President, Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society of India and Administrator, Maharashtra Medical Council. As a step to control sickle cell disease, every student taking admission in any undergraduate course of the university should be compulsorily tested for sickle cell, Dr. Rughwani added. For the last few years, sickle cell disease has been included in the list of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2017. By including this disease in the disability list, children suffering from this disease get reservation in education. Recently many amendments have been made in the Disability Certificate Act. According to which all sickle cell sufferers will be issued a Disability certificate. While giving information about this disease, Dr. Vinky Rughwani said that sickle cell is a genetic and serious disease. This genetic disease is more prevalent in Buddhist, Teli, Mahar, Kunbi and tribal communities. Generally, this disease is found in almost all communities to some extent. Disease is more common in some parts of the country. Vidarbha is one such place. A patient suffering from sickle cell disease has frequent pain in hands, legs, stomach and the whole body. These patients have to be admitted to the hospital many times for this body pain. Due to low hemoglobin level, patients sometimes have to be given blood transfusion. These patients have to take hydroxyurea, folic acid and other medicines lifelong. They also have to undergo frequent blood tests, sonography ,etc which add more financial burden on the family. The complications of the disease increase with the increasing age.The permanent cure for sickle cell disease is bone marrow transplantation which costs around Rs 14 to 15 lakh. Getting HLA matched for bone marrow transplantation is also a difficult task and the procedure is very risky. Talking about prevention, Dr. Rughwani said that if the right method is adopted, this disease can be completely controlled. This disease is completely preventable. A child with sickle cell disease (SS pattern) is born only when both the parents have sickle cell trait. People with sickle cell trait are completely normal. Therefore, it is necessary for boys and girls to get tested for sickle cell before marriage. This test can prove to be very helpful in preventing this disease.
