Awareness Campaign for Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination

• 31 Aug 2023

On 29^th August, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda inaugurated an 'Awareness Campaign and Training of Trainers' initiative to educate grassroots workers about sickle cell anaemia, especially in tribal areas.

The initiative is part of the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, aiming to eradicate the disease by 2047.

Key Points

• Educational Initiative: Union Minister inaugurated an 'Awareness Campaign and Training of Trainers' initiative to educate grassroots workers about sickle cell anaemia, focusing on tribal regions.
• National Mission: The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, introduced in the 2023-24 budget, aims to eradicate sickle cell anaemia from India by 2047.
• Comprehensive Strategy: The mission involves a multi-faceted approach, including public awareness campaigns, screening of seven crore individuals aged 0-40 in affected tribal areas, and counselling. Central ministries and state governments collaborate in this effort.
• PM's Involvement: Prime Minister formally launched the mission on July 1 in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district, aligning with his vision of a sickle cell disease-free India through community participation.
• Healthcare Database: The minister emphasized the need to establish a healthcare database for affected populations to support research and sustainable solutions for tackling sickle cell anaemia.
• Community-Driven Vision: The minister's statement underscores the mission's focus on fostering public awareness and participation to achieve the goal of eradicating sickle cell anaemia by 2047.