New Delhi, March 24 More than 6.97 crore screenings have been conducted for sickle cell disease (SCD) in tribal-dominated areas across the country, and 3.93 crore genetic status cards have been distributed, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM), screenings in the targeted age group of 0-40 years are conducted at all health facilities, from district hospitals up to Ayushman Arogya Mandir-level, in 17 tribal states for the diagnosis of SCD, Patel said in a written reply.
As reported by the states on the SCD portal, more than 6.97 crore screenings have been conducted so far.
The Union health ministry has devised the cost norms for the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoE) on SCD, funded by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs in various states.
Patel said in her written reply that 17 CoE in 15 states have been approved by the ministry so far.
Patients living with SCD are provided several services to improve their quality of life through sub health centres and primary health centres, which include follow-up with diseased individuals at frequent intervals, counseling regarding lifestyle management, pre-marriage and pre-natal decisions, nutritional supplementation support through the distribution of folic acid tablets, management of crisis symptoms, and referral to higher facilities.
The government is making sustained efforts to reduce malnutrition and anaemia among tribal populations through the Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy under the National Health Mission (NHM), focusing on antenatal care, institutional deliveries, post-natal care, and family planning, Patel said.
Under Mission Poshan 2.0, the government focuses on maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding norms, treatment of severe and moderate acute malnutrition, and wellness through AYUSH practices to reduce the prevalence of wasting, stunting, and anaemia.
Supplementary nutrition is provided to children aged six months to six years, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls at Anganwadi centres as per nutrition norms, based on principles of diet diversity that provides quality protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients, she stated.