The Third Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease and Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) is all set to kick off here from February 21 to 24.
The conference, held for the first time in India, is expected to turn the spotlight on the sickle cell disease (SCD) and the heavy human cost it entails.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to inaugurate the meet, which would also be attended Odisha Health Minister Pradip Amat, Chhattisgarh Health Minister Ajay Chandrakar and Maharashtra Health Minister Dr Deepak Sawant.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Dr Soumya Swaminathan and National Health Mission (NHM) Additional Secretary and Managing Director Dr Arun Kumar Panda would also be present.
The Global Sickle Cell Disease Network (GSCDN), the biggest network of experts in the field of SCD, along with the Odisha Hematology and Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) would bring on one platform top brains in SCD and BMT, eminent hematologists, transplant physicians, doctors, researchers, policy makers and Government representatives from different countries and States of India.
Over 500 delegates from across the world and 1,000 from different parts of India would participate in the conference, which would comprise four plenary sessions with panel discussions, symposia and paper presentations. More than 100 paper presentations would be made.
Since the global event aims to enhance in-depth scientific research to chalk out advance clinical care strategies for people affected with SCD across the endemic regions, international experts like Miguel R. Abboud (lebanon), Adekunle D Adekile (Kuwait), lou M Aledort (New York), Biree Andemaria (Farmington), lanetta Bronte (Florida, USA), Thomas D Coates (California, USA), Sharon Cox (london) and Bernard Dauvergne (France) are slated to be involved in strategic engagements during the conference.
Distinguished names from India including Dr Mammen Chandy (Tata Medical Centre), Dr Maitreyee Bhattacharya (Kolkata), Dr Alok Srivastav (Vellore) and Dr Renu Saxsena (New Delhi) would also share their knowledge and vision with clinicians and scientists, lawyers, health policymakers and patients and their families.
“The global event will focus on SCD and BMT in Odisha in particular and India in general. It will also open up new vistas for medical services providers and allied sectors,” said Prof RK Jena, organising secretary and Head of Department of Clinical Hematology, SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack.
In symposiums on management and control of sickle cell disease in India, experiences of Indian States such as Odisha and Maharashtra and international experience in Africa, the UK and the Middle East would also be shared during the conference.
Odisha has a significantly high percentage of the population which is carrier of the sickle gene, estimated to be up to 34 per cent in some regions of the State. This requires comprehensive and effective control measures at the public level to help reduce the rising disease burden in the State.
The global event in Odisha is expected to be vital in helping build awareness among the local population and provide the much-needed boost to the efforts of the health agencies of the Government.