Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCEM) in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh today. “Sickle Cell Disease is a disease that impacts tribal sections of societies significantly. The government is committed to eliminating the disease before India celebrates it’s Amrit Kaal in 2047 said PM Modi.

According to the Press Release, Prime Minister stressed the need for everyone to contribute to eliminating the disease, whether it is the government, the health worker, or the citizens themselves, He further said, “The National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission takes a comprehensive approach towards combating sickle cell disease as the impact of a disease is not felt by the patient alone but by the whole family. NSCEM combines both screening and awareness strategies to ensure early detection and treatment while promoting education about the disease as people may not be aware that they suffer from this disease, and may unintentionally transfer it to the next generation, hence the role of screening becomes even more important in this regard.”

The Prime Minister launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, as well as released the guidelines for Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission. He further launched training modules for primary, secondary, and tertiary care including medical officers, staff nurses, Community Health Officers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, and Accredited Social Health Activist workers. He also released an awareness module for Sickle Cell Disease for Non-Health Functionaries, Parents, and Teachers, as well as a counselling module for patients, care givers, and pregnant women.

At the event, the Prime Minister handed over Sickle Cell Genetic Status Cards to beneficiaries. He also launched the distribution of about 3.57 crore digital cards to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) beneficiaries, with 1 crore cards being distributed physically to the beneficiaries in Madhya Pradesh.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, called the day historic, and said, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Programme was developed to ensure that the health risks faced by our tribal communities are significantly reduced.”

He further said, “The elimination programme reflects the government’s Intent and determination to eliminate the spread of Sickle Cell Diseases. Across 278 districts of India, screenings will be done for people between 0-40 years to stem the further spread of the disease.”

Shri Mangubhai C. Patel, Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Prof. SP Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel, Smt Renuka Singh Saruta, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, and Shri Bishweswar Tudu, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, were also present at the event.