Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched National Sickle Cell Anaemia Eradication Mission (NSCAEM) 2047 by unveiling a portal and also released a guideline for the management of the disease and different modules for its monitoring.

The prime minister also kickstarted the distribution of about 3.57 crore Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards in Madhya Pradesh. During the programme, he honoured Rani Durgavati, the ruling queen of Gondwana in the mid-16th century.

While addressing the gathering, the prime minister said, "Today, the country is taking a big resolution on the land of Shahdol. This resolution is to get rid of the disease of sickle cell anaemia. Our government is committed to the welfare of tribal sisters and brothers. The launch of 'Sickle Cell Anemia Mukti Mission' in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh will bring a significant change in their lives."

At a function, the Prime Minister took a swipe at the Opposition and asked people to beware of “fake guarantees” being given by “family-centric” political parties including Congress.

“Beware of those (parties) who are giving fake guarantees. Such people have brought schemes of guarantees despite they don't have their own (political) guarantee,” PM Modi said.

He said, "Family-centric parties including Congress are hobnobbing together"

PM Modi emphasised that the biggest beneficiaries of these efforts were the people of Gond, Bhil, and other Adivasi societies. The prime minister stated that the nation was taking a big pledge from the land of Shahdol to secure the lives of people from tribal communities, aiming for freedom from sickle cell anaemia and to save the lives of 2.5 lakh affected children and families.

The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, announced in the union budget 2023, aims to address the pressing health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among the tribal population. The mission aims to eliminate sickle cell disease as a public health problem by 2047.

The mission will be implemented in 278 districts of 17 states in India, viz., namely Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.

The mission entails a focus on awareness creation, universal screening of approximately seven crore people in the 0-40 years age group in affected tribal areas and counselling through collaborative efforts of central ministries and state governments.

Image source: PTI