Governor Mangubhai Patel has said that mass awareness is necessary to eradicate sickle cell anemia. For effective prevention, management and treatment of sickle cell anemia, every community and individual has to serve humanity by becoming a partner. Governor Patel was addressing the seminar and screening camp on World Sickle Cell Day on June 19 at Eklavya campus of Semarkhapa, Mandla.
Patel said that service to humanity is service to God. Everyone should cooperate as much as possible in the noble cause of treating sickle cell anemia. The central government has set a target to make India free of TB by the year 2025 and sickle cell anemia by the year 2047. To accomplish this, we all have to come forward and cooperate with the government.
Patel said that sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease. For its eradication, every family must be counseled and screened.. Along with this, while examining pregnant women in Anganwadi centers, their family history of illness will also have to be ascertained. He said that children will also have to be checked for sickle cell anemia from time to time by visiting Anganwadi centers, primary, secondary, higher secondary schools and colleges. Information about various programmes and policy provisions being run by the Central and State Governments for the eradication of sickle cell anemia was also given. The Governor said that the central government has made a provision of Rs 15 thousand crore in the budget for the eradication of sickle cell anemia. The state government has also set up the State Hemoglobinopathy Mission for sickle cell eradication awareness and management and other programmes are also being run in collaboration with the health department.
Governor Patel said that children affected by sickle cell anemia should do regular yoga and exercise. Give importance to nutritious food at home and eat simple sattvic food. He also advised the children to avoid consumption of fast food and other oily food. Governor Patel also gave information about the welfare schemes of the Central and State Government for the empowerment of daughters and women.
Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste said that the health department should speed up the investigation of sickle cell disease by coordinating with ICMR and other technical institutions. He talked about running an intensive programme for checking sickle cell in tribal-dominated areas. State Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Prabhuram Choudhary gave the welcome speech. He gave detailed information about various efforts being made by the state government for eradication, screening and management of sickle cell anaemia.
An exhibition was also organised in the programme by the Health Department for screening, investigation and awareness. Governor Patel visited the exhibition. He inquired from the doctors about the process to be followed in the examination of sickle cell. The programme started with the lighting of the lamp and the national anthem. In the seminar, the experts gave information from PPT about the symptoms of sickle cell anemia disease, prescribed procedure for prevention and management and sickle cell eradication programmes of the state government. Two daughters, Archana Manikpuri and Prachi Jharia, who have been benefitted from the state government's programmes for the treatment of sickle cell, shared their experiences and expressed their gratitude for the co-operation received from the government.
MLA Devsingh Saiyam, Dr. Ashok Marskole, District Panchayat President Sanjay Kushram and public representatives, Principal Secretary DP Ahuja, President of Tribal Cell Deepak Khandekar, Commissioner Health Dr. Sudam Khade, Commissioner Jabalpur Division Abhay Verma, IG Balaghat Sanjay Singh, DIG Balaghat Mukesh Srivastava were present along with senior officers, sickle cell affected children and family members.
