Governor Mangubhai Patel has said that on World Sickle Cell Day, the work of awareness and check up in tribal dominated areas should be done on a campaign level. The work of screening at tehsil level should be done by making a programme.

Governor Patel was discussing with the officials of Health, AYUSH and Tribal Affairs Department in a meeting at Raj Bhavan on Friday. Tribal Affairs, Scheduled Caste Welfare Minister Meena Singh was also present.

Governor Patel said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed that after the year 2047, no child suffering from sickle cell disease should be born in the country, work should be done in this direction at a fast pace. The Governor said that work should be done with firmness to eradicate sickle cell disease in the state. The measure of success of the work is that not a single sickle cell carrier should be missed in the screening. The cards should be made available to all the carriers, so that the carrier boys and girls do not marry among themselves. He said that the working hours of the screening should be decided according to the convenience of the villagers. In relation to the screening work, information should be disseminated by making announcements through mikes. Necessary training has been provided to the ASHA workers regarding the screening work. Their service and skills should be put to effective use during the campaign.

Governor Patel said that public representatives should also be informed about the programmes of World Sickle Cell Day on June 19. Organise programmes to share experiences of sickle cell carriers and patients. Important persons should also be invited in the programmes. Along with the exhibition of AYUSH medicines and herbal products, arrangement for consultation counter of subject-experts of AYUSH department should also be made at the programme venue.

It was told in the meeting that within 72 hours of the birth of newborn babies, special tests are being done by the lab operated in AIIMS Bhopal. Till date 1369 samples have been tested and 40 sickle cell carriers have been identified. There will be sickle cell screening and counselling camps on World Sickle Cell Day. Treatment and follow up cards and counselling cards will be distributed to sickle cell patients. Rallies, street plays and oath-taking ceremonies will be held at Gram Panchayat level for awareness about sickle cell disease through self-help organisations in all tribal-dominated districts. There will also be distribution of medicines to sickle cell patients, parental diagnosis and workshops for screening of new born babies.

Chairman Tribal Cell Raj Bhavan Deepak Khandekar, Additional Chief Secretary Health Mohammad Suleman, Principal Secretary Tribal Affairs Smt. Pallavi Jain, Principal Secretary to the Governor D.P. Ahuja, Commissioner cum Secretary Health Sudam Khade, Managing Director National Health Mission Priyanka Das and other officers of Health, AYUSH and Tribal Affairs Department were present.