Barwani: Noting that sickle cell anaemia severely affects India's tribal population, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday lauded the steps taken by the Madhya Pradesh government to tackle the disease.
In a message, the president appreciated the state government's initiatives to mark World Sickle Cell Awareness Day by organising a program here, an official release said.
Sickle cell anaemia, which affects millions of people worldwide, has severely impacted India's tribal population, and so observing this day with a resolve to fight the disease is a major step forward, Murmu said.
Sickle cell anemia results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin found in red blood cells.
Calling on all stakeholders to work together to free India of this disease, the president said to achieve the goal of developed India by 2047, it is essential that all citizens remain healthy, as only healthy citizens can contribute effectively to the progress of their lives and that of the country.
To block inter-generational transmission of sickle cell anaemia, genetic counselling, community-level screening and proper disease management are very important, the president noted.
The national commitment to eliminate sickle cell anaemia by 2047 is a visionary initiative aimed at eradicating the disease, she said, noting that under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, integrated treatment centres have been established where essential medicines are provided free.
This has led to timely identification of the disease in several tribal communities, Murmu said.
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