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Elimination Of Sickle Cell Disease, Integral Part Of Achieving Holistic Vision Of Health For All: Dr VK Paul

Dr Paul backed the forming of healthcare professional partnerships that would facilitate wide assimilation and sharing of knowledge on a nationwide scale. He stressed the importance of incorporating pregnancy screening as well as easy accessibility of Hydroxyurea and pneumococcal vaccines

Elimination Of Sickle Cell Disease, Integral Part Of Achieving Holistic Vision Of Health For All: Dr VK Paul
Health Secretary stated that the Ministry of Health will support the state governments through the National Health Mission providing financial support.

New Delhi: Elimination of Sickle Cell Disease is an integral part of achieving the holistic vision of health for all in India, said Dr V K Paul, Member Health, Niti Aayog on Monday. VK Paul addressed the Post Budget Webinar ‘Leaving No Citizen Behind’ in the presence of Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Paul said,

We have to make a coalition at the ground level that connects each and every stakeholder. We need to make this as Jan Andolan to reach the last mile.

Also Read: Study Shows Link Between Sickle Cell Disease, Higher Death Risk In Pregnant Women

In resonance with this, he emphasized the need to generate awareness of Sickle Cell Disease wherein ‘opportunity testing’ is encouraged, as it would expedite treatment for those already suffering from the disease. He emphasized the role of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in community mobilization and stakeholder collaboration in defining the medium and modes for reaching affected tribal areas. He said,

It needs to be widely known that Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana provides full treatment for Sickle Cell Disease, free of cost.

Dr Paul backed the forming of healthcare professional partnerships that would facilitate wide assimilation and sharing of knowledge on a nationwide scale. He stressed the importance of incorporating pregnancy screening as well as easy accessibility of Hydroxyurea and pneumococcal vaccines.

Reiterating the need for collective action, Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary said,

Employing a whole of government, whole of society approach is essential for eliminating this disease from the nation within a defined timeframe.

He elaborated that the portal on Sickle Cell Disease Management has already been established and a mobile application is also underway for which the training and orientation have commenced for state governments. Mr. Bhushan said,

It is imperative to define a framework for time-bound implementation on a state, block and district level to ensure last-mile delivery at the grassroots level.

He further added,

ICMR has conducted a health technology assessment for existing point-of-care tests that have been manufactured in India, endorsing their efficacy. This has been followed by onboarding of state governments on these point-of-care tests, their rates, and the possible symptoms that may be prevalent with the targeted group of 7 crore people for whom screening will be done.

Also Read: National Commission for Scheduled Castes Vice Chairman Welcomes Mission To Eliminate Sickle Cell Disease

Reiterating the role of the ministry, the Health Secretary stated that the Ministry of Health will support the state governments through the National Health Mission providing financial support.

The state governments can choose the level of screening i.e., one level or two levels of screening that they deem fit. Additionally, the health ministry has appointed ICMR, AIIMS, and medical colleges as nodal agencies for all states as a point of reference regarding technical guidance, he said.

R Jaya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs mentioned that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs will delve into the outreach aspect of the mission including communications with stakeholders, developing guidelines for the training of trainers, and for awareness generation, non-medical care of patients and genetic counselling. She said,

Health needs and health care of the tribal population is to be understood socio-culturally hence advocacy of early management practices, collaborations with Gram Sabha, community mobilisation, and translation of content into tribal languages will additionally serve to enhance the reach of the mission.

Through a detailed presentation, a granular detail analysis of disease burden, objectives, strategies, approaches like universal screening and awareness generation in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, diagnostics and treatment, comprehensive care of new-born with Sickle Cell Disease, universal screening and early diagnosis, Sickle Cell Portal, steps taken with integration of AYUSH, the role of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the role of ICMR, Department of Biotech and other research institutions, Role of AIIMS and other medical colleges as Centres of Excellence, Role of Other Ministries/Dept. of National Sickle Cell Anaemia Mission was presented.

Senior officials from the government, representatives from WHO, UNICEF, UIDB, civil society organisations, and healthcare provider organisations were also in attendance for this webinar.

Also Read: What is Sickle Cell Anaemia? Five Things To Know

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ populationindigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (WaterSanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollutionwaste managementplastic banmanual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.

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