To prevent sickle cell disease, screening of potential people before marriage, during pregnancy and counseling of parents based on their results can curb the spread of the disease in the coming generations, said Dr. Arvind Neral.
He was addressing the event to mark World Sickle Cell Day on Monday organized at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital's Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
A sickle cell disease screening is being held by taking blood samples of patients and detailed information was provided to them to prevent the spread of the disease.
Neral said the sickling test should be done compulsorily for all pregnant women along with other tests. Sickle cell testing has been made legally mandatory in some countries of the world. Good results are being seen in those countries.
The Chief Guest and Dean Medical College, Dr. Trupti Nagaria said that while deciding marriage relationship to prevent the spread of sickle cell in the coming generation, everyone should keep in mind that the future spouse should have small sickling and large sickling should not be positive.
Taking a step forward, all have to put more emphasis on matching the genetic horoscope of sickle cell for marriage and its screening or investigation, she added.
Dr. Manoj Chellani said there is a system for its free investigation by the government.
Dr. Jyoti Jaiswal, Head of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, said the department is trying to ensure that genetic diseases can be investigated through the genetic lab in the medical college.