Taking into account the fact that congenital and hereditary genetic diseases becoming health burden and the need for adequate and effective genetic testing, UMMID centre for genetic disease was inaugurated at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) on Thursday. Christened as Unique Methods of Management and Treatment of Inherited Disorders (UMMID), it is run by department of biotechnology.
The centre was inaugurated by union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda at RIMS auditorium in presence of State Health minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi, RIMS director Dr DK Singh among others. The objective of UMMID initiative is to make treatment of expensive genetic diseases in newborns within reach of all people.On the occasion, Munda said that out of 117 aspirational districts, there are 93 tribal districts where cases of genetic diseases in newborns are high. With the launch of UMMID centre at RIMS one can expect that it will help in checking expensive genetic diseases in newborns, he added. Munda also issued some directives to doctors and medical practitioner engaged with UMMID centre. He said, “The doctors working under the project should work with full sincerity. The doctors and experts working should create a good data base and proper maintenance is need of the hour.”
The minister of health and family welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan few months back launched two initiatives to tackle the menace of genetic diseases in newborns. These are: The Unique Methods of Management and treatment of Inherited Disorders (UMMID) initiative National Inherited Diseases Administration (NIDAN). The genetic centre will provide counselling, pre-natal testing / diagnosis and management in government hospitals. Another objective is to produce skilled technicians in Human genetics to screen pregnant women and newborn babies for inherited genetic diseases. Jharkhand has a very high prevalence rate for Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassemia and is an endemic zone for these disorders.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia — a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your body. Munda said, “As prevention is better than cure, the main thrust or focus of UMMID scheme is to create awareness or provide necessary precautionary measures a person (pregnant woman) should follow to check the menace of genetic diseases in newborns.” Under the project, screening of 10,000 pregnant women and 5000 new born babies per year for inherited genetic diseases will be taken up.
Department of Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College – the Training Centre supported by Department of Biotechnology, GoI under UMMID Initiative has been entrusted the responsibility of Ranchi, the Aspirational District having huge patient load of Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassemia.
With the joint effort of multiple stakeholders with the Government of India, it is envisaged that the programme will go a long way in reducing the morbidity and mortality related to these disorders.