Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)

In  News 

• African health ministers launched a campaign to ramp up awareness, bolster prevention and care to curb the toll of sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD)

• About: 
  • It is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Red blood carries  oxygen to all parts of the body.
  • Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
  •  In someone who has SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the red blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle.”
  • The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells.
• Types:
  • There are several types of SCD. The specific type of SCD a person has depends on the genes they inherited from their parents. People with SCD inherit genes that contain instructions, or code, for abnormal hemoglobin.
• Cause:
  • SCD is a genetic condition that is present at birth. It is inherited when a child receives two genes—one from each parent—that code for abnormal hemoglobin.
• Prevention: 
  • Management of SCD is focused on preventing and treating pain episodes and other complications. Prevention strategies include lifestyle behaviors as well as medical screening and interventions to prevent SCD complications.
• Recent Initiatives:
  • The Unmukt Project is being implemented by the Central Government to strengthen screening and timely management of Sickle Cell Anemia.
  • The Tribal Affairs Ministry established the National Council on Sickle Cell Disease and Tribal Health Cell, which would coordinate with the Ministry of Health and State Governments. 
  • The Tribal Affairs Ministry,  through development of Sickle Cell Support Corner, has instituted a mechanism for creating a Central Repository of data.