ગુજરાતી
English
Ahmedabad, 16 September 2023
There are a total of 29,600 sickle cell anemia patients in the entire state of Gujarat. The number of sickle cell anemia patients in South Gujarat is said to be around 10 to 12 percent. There are 2500 patients in Valsad district. There are 1700 patients in Navsari district and 700 in Dang district.
Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission was launched in Gujarat in 2006. Sickle cell anemia is prevalent in 14 tribal districts. 97 lakh people have been tested. Out of which more than 7.11 lakh sickle cell carriers and more than 31 thousand sickle cell patients were found. Before 2006, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had created the Pain Relief Project. Which has not been successful for 17 years.
The target is to eliminate sickle cell anemia from the entire country by 2047. Under this mission, an estimated 7 crore people of the country up to 40 years of age were tested through rapid tests under this campaign.
Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disease caused by hemoglobin deficiency. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease. In which, if sickle cell is found in the genes received from both mother and father, then it has to be taken care of. Having sickle cells in both genes is called sickle cell disease. When one parent has the sickle cell gene, it is called sickle cell trait. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease found in tribals. This disease occurs due to deficiency of color formula. The physical and mental pain caused by this disease is very severe.
Vadodara district administration has taken a decision regarding the health of adolescent girls. About 39,000 school-going or non-school going girls in the district will be medically tested for sickle cell anemia.
Doctors work to provide relief to the tribals from the pain of this hereditary disease. Dr. Yazdi Italia has been doing this for years.
In the year 2005-06, the first two sickle cell patients in the state were found in Valsad district. Which was diagnosed by Dr. Yazdi Italia of Valsad Blood Donation Centre. The doctor at Valsad Blood Donation Center described these two patients as the longest living people in the whole of India. Yazdi went to Italy.
The first sickle cell project in the state was started by Dr. Yazdi Italia. He conducted large-scale screening for sickle cell in tribal areas. In the year 2006, Gujarat Government handed over the responsibility. In the year 2006, India’s first Valsad Blood Donation Center was started to control sickle cell anemia.
This state program was implemented across the country in 2011 by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Which includes screening, testing, counseling, treatment.
A total of 400 sickle cell disease patients, 188 men and 212 women, were found in Banaskantha district, Danta and Amirgarh. While the total number of sickle cell trait (carrier) patients is 17,832. In which 8,590 are men and 9,242 are women. 4,020 men and 4,108 women were found in Amirgarh taluka, taking the total number of treated patients to 8,128. While 5,070 men and 4,638 women were detected in Danta taluka, the total number of treated patients is 9,408.
Aabha ID, PMJAY card, disability card have been made for sickle cell disease patients and assistance of Rs 500 is provided by the tribal department.
Pneumococcal vaccine has been administered to 333 patients and is yet to be administered to 67 patients. The number of patients taking Hydroxyurea tablets is For the first time in Banaskantha district, disability certificates have been issued to 152 sickle cell disease patients.
What must be done to survive?
A sickle cell carrier should not marry another sickle cell carrier or someone with symptoms of the disease to prevent disease progression. So that the coming generation can be protected from sickle cell disease. Like horoscope, sickle cell horoscope should also be given due importance.
