Health
What is Sickle Cell Anaemia? Five Things To Know
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government will launch a mission to eradicate Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) from India by 2047. The government will conduct universal screening for seven crore people between the age group of 0-40 years in the affected tribal areas
New Delhi: During the unveiling of the Union Budget on February 1 (Wednesday), 2023, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government will launch a mission to eradicate Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) by 2047. The government will conduct universal screening for seven crore people between the age group of 0-40 years in the affected tribal areas. It will also entail awareness and counselling through the collaborative efforts of central ministries and state governments.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 5 per cent of the world’s population carries trait genes for haemoglobin disorders, mainly, sickle-cell disease and thalassaemia. Besides, more than 3,000,000 babies with severe haemoglobin disorders are born each year globally.
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Let us look at what Sickle Cell Anaemia is, its prevalence, symptoms and treatments:
- Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA), also known as sickle cell disease (SCD), is a group of disorders that cause red blood cells to become misshapen and break down. It is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease. It affects the shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the blood clots can cause extreme pain in the back, chest, hands, and feet. The disrupted blood flow can also cause damage to bones, muscles, and organs. People with sickle cell disease often feel weak, tired, and look pale. The whites of the eyes and skin often have a yellowish tint.
- Environmental factors affect the occurrence of the disease. The common triggers include cold temperatures, dehydration, excessive amounts of exercise, tobacco smoke, etc.
- According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs of India, SCA is widespread among the tribal population in India, where about one in every 86 births among the scheduled tribes has the disease. The disease has resulted in morbidity and mortality via distinct pathways.
- The treatment for SCD is primarily a bone marrow or cell transplant, but the treatment for the disease can vary for each person, depending on the symptoms and severity. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four treatments for SCD.
- Hydroxyurea for people with SCD ages 2 years and older
- L-glutamine or ENDARI, for people with SCD ages 5 years and older.
- Voxelotor or OXBRYTA for people with SCD ages 4 years and older
- Crizanlizumab or ADAKVEO for people with SCD ages 16 years and older
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