Red blood cells (Photo credit: Pexels)
New Delhi: India contributes second highest Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) incidence to the global number of cases. As per the data, 1 in 86 births in the country suffer with SCD. Sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder that disrupts the shape of red blood cells. The shortage of red blood cells then can have a serious health consequences.
Dr Rahul Bhargava, Principal Director & Chief BMT, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, said that the fear of a large number of the tribal patients slipping through the cracks is real. “This means they have access to diagnosis and treatment. There are about 706 different tribal communities in India, accounting for 8.6 percent of the total population,” he said.
Reason why sickle cell disease highest in tribal region
As per the data, the states where tribal population is highest, like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, contributes an estimation of 75 per cent of country’s total sickle cell disease. While lack of awareness and treatment resources are among the major reasons for this growing danger, malaria incidence is also linked to the same.
Also read: Study finds sickle cell anaemia is 11 times deadlier than thought
The link here explored the idea that as our body fights against the malaria, it changes the genetic code of haemoglobin. However, it has also been found that people with sickle cell trait have lower chances of getting malaria. Hence, the areas with the highest malaria rates also have the highest rates of sickle cell trait.
Sickle cell disease, major cause of morbidity
He said, “Sickle cell disease not only leads to early mortality but is major cause of morbidity as well. Many kids suffers from growth retardation and because of pain crises get dropped out of the schools. It is mostly tribal areas where SCD is highly prevalent where awareness and knowledge about such disease has still not reached. This is where it is essential to create awareness.”
He added that the loss due to this disease is not only on the personal front but by spending resources only on treatment and not on awareness, it is am huge economic and productivity loss to the country. “The disease causes a constant shortage of red blood cells leading to serious health issues such as infection, acute chest syndrome, and even stroke,” he said.
A recent study estimated the life expectancy of adults with SCD to be 54 years, approximately 20 years shorter than that of adults without SCD. The government needs to allocate a reasonable amount for eradication of SCD in the healthcare budget.
Also read: India’s anaemia prevalence increased by 9% among adolescent women in last 5 years
Fighting against sickle cell disease
Looking at the increasing incidence of sickle cell diseases, Union Health Ministry has allocated a bigger space for eradication of the disease. During the Union Budget 2023-2024, the government stressed on the aim to eliminate the disease by 2047.
The project included creating awareness, universal screening and counseling for about 7 million people between the ages of 0 and 40 years in the affected tribal areas through a joint effort between central ministries and state governments.
